Twee koppen

Curator: Here we have “Twee Koppen,” or "Two Heads," a drawing made sometime between 1840 and 1880 by Johannes Tavenraat. Editor: They look…stern. Drawn simply with ink on paper, two figures in profile facing each other. The lines are confident but not overly detailed. It gives the impression of capturing a fleeting moment. Curator: Right. Tavenraat was working during a fascinating period where Romanticism was giving way to Realism. We see both styles informing the portraiture he undertook, where the individual becomes a site of emotional expression. The social contexts of the Netherlands during this period were shifting. The representation of gender roles within a portrait like this can highlight some of those evolving expectations. Editor: Indeed. The economic shift had an undeniable impact. Looking closely, you see the textures the ink creates on the paper. It’s very interesting what choices an artist makes with relatively few, raw materials. Consider what Tavenraat had at his disposal and how that connects with his intended market of potential viewers or buyers. Was this study to later be developed for wider consumption or perhaps intended for a specific client? Curator: I am especially curious about the potential dialogue or confrontation taking place. Consider the position of women in Dutch society during the 19th century. How does that position, the act of being seen and represented, translate in the relationship with other women and perhaps the domestic roles imposed upon them? Editor: Yes, this makes me wonder what class these women might have belonged to. Were they commissioned pieces? Maybe these considerations drove his choice of such a sparse, accessible medium like pen and ink on paper versus something grander or more traditionally "finished." What story do these women tell and through which tangible methods did Tavenraat convey it? Curator: These are the stories that draw me to this kind of work. Editor: It’s these material choices that keep me grounded in the how of seeing.