Schetsen van koppen 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this sheet of head studies using pen and brown ink in the 19th century. What’s striking here is the directness of the artist’s hand. You can feel the speed and confidence with which Tavenraat laid down these lines, capturing the character of each face with just a few strokes. This isn't about laborious detail; it's about economy and expression. When we look at a drawing like this, we see more than just the subject. We see the act of making itself. The immediacy of the medium gives us a sense of the artist's presence, as if we're looking over his shoulder as he works. In a world increasingly dominated by mass production, it's a reminder of the power and value of individual skill and vision. It collapses distinctions between high art and everyday practice, revealing the beauty inherent in the act of creation itself.