Portret van Jacques Perk 1887

Jan Veth made this drawing of Jacques Perk with graphite on paper. It's a sensitive profile, which seems fitting considering Perk's status as an iconic, if tragic, figure in Dutch literature. Perk was a leading light in the Dutch revival of the 1880s, a period of renewed focus on national identity and artistic expression. His poems explored themes of love, nature, and spiritual longing, reflecting the cultural values of the time, but he died of a respiratory infection at just 22 years old. Veth captures Perk’s delicate features and contemplative gaze. It’s as if he knew that he was depicting a figure whose life was cut short. This portrayal immortalizes Perk, preserving his image for posterity and solidifying his place in the Dutch art historical canon. It also offers a glimpse into the private world of a man whose words continue to resonate.