Mannenhoofd, in profiel c. 1880 - 1906

George Hendrik Breitner created this sketch of a man's head in profile. The stark lines and minimal detail evoke a sense of introspection. The profile view has roots stretching back to ancient coins and portraiture, a technique employed to capture not just likeness but also status and character. Consider the Roman busts, where the profile conveyed strength and authority. Here, however, the sketch feels more intimate, less about public image and more about private contemplation. The man’s gaze is directed inward, inviting us to consider his thoughts. This act of turning inward, of withdrawing from the world to reflect, is a recurring theme in art across epochs. It is a gesture we find echoed in religious iconography, in depictions of hermits or meditating saints. Perhaps, here, Breitner captures a similar moment of quiet reflection. The profile becomes a mask, behind which lies a world of inner experience, a timeless space where individual and collective memories intertwine.