Portret van Anna Dorothea Veth-Dirks 1874 - 1925

Editor: So, this is "Portret van Anna Dorothea Veth-Dirks" by Jan Veth, made sometime between 1874 and 1925. It’s an ink drawing on paper, currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. I'm immediately struck by how raw it feels, almost unfinished. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful interrogation of the portrait as a commodity. The very materials – ink and paper – are readily available, cheap even. Consider the labor: swift, economical lines that prioritize essence over meticulous detail. This wasn't about creating a precious object but rather a functional likeness. Editor: Functional how? What was its purpose? Curator: Perhaps it was preparatory – a sketch for a larger painting, or maybe a study of character. The materiality speaks volumes about the artist's intent. Was it intended for public consumption or private reflection? What kind of value was it supposed to have, compared to say, a full painting? Editor: So the materials and process inform how we value the work? Curator: Precisely. We often elevate oil paintings on canvas as "high art" due to the perceived skill and expense involved. But drawings like this force us to question that hierarchy. The immediacy of the ink, the stark contrast of black and white – it challenges notions of artistic preciousness and highlights the labour of creation. The visible evidence of the hand makes it approachable and intimate. The choice of simple materials elevates this from a mere image to a material exploration of subject and medium. Editor: That’s a completely different way of thinking about portraiture. I guess I usually think of portraits as trying to capture the inner soul, but you’re saying we should think about the actual *stuff* that it’s made from, and the artist’s work. Thanks! Curator: Exactly. By examining the material conditions, we uncover deeper insights into the work’s meaning and value.