Koppen 1840 - 1880

Johannes Tavenraat made this pen drawing, called ‘Koppen’ in the Netherlands, in the 19th century. Tavenraat's quick sketches capture the faces of ordinary people, perhaps encountered in the streets or marketplaces of the Netherlands. The focus on headwear might reflect sumptuary laws of the time, where dress codes indicated social status. The art market, as an institution, often dictated the types of subjects considered worthy of artistic attention. However, Tavenraat seems more interested in the everyday than the elite. We can research these visual codes and social structures further using archives and historical documents to understand the cultural context of 19th-century Dutch society. The beauty of art lies not just in its aesthetic qualities but in its ability to reflect and challenge the norms of its time.