Portret van Ch. M. van Deventer 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth made this portrait of Ch. M. van Deventer with pen and ink, on what looks like a simple piece of gridded paper. Notice how Veth uses the most humble means to create the image, almost as though he grabbed whatever was available to him. This directness informs the entire aesthetic, which feels raw and immediate. The background is scribbled in, densely massed to create a strong contrast with the blank paper of the sitter’s face. The lines are stark, giving a sense of volume and form with incredible efficiency. The choice of materials, and the speed of execution, give the portrait a casual feel, a sense of intimacy. There’s a connection here to the tradition of sketching, where the artist’s hand is evident, the thought process laid bare. Yet this is clearly a finished work, not just a study. By embracing the everyday, and showing the working process, Veth collapses the hierarchy between the fine arts and more vernacular modes of expression. In this way, we can see how even a simple portrait can challenge our expectations of what art should be.