Kop van een man met een lange snor c. 1881 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this study of a man's head with graphite on paper, and it shows his deep engagement with the working class of the Netherlands. The drawing shows a sensitivity to the qualities inherent in graphite, emphasizing its soft, almost crumbling nature. Notice how Mauve hasn't fixed the image with any medium, rather trusting in the qualities of the paper to receive the marks. The lines are spare, searching, almost tentative – which gives the image a feeling of immediacy. You can almost imagine the artist quickly sketching the man in a brief moment of repose. Mauve's choice of humble materials aligns with his social and artistic vision, embracing a simplicity of form. With this approach, he elevates the material and the subject, to highlight the dignity of labor. This approach blurs the lines between high art and the everyday, underscoring the profound beauty found in simple materials, and the lives of ordinary people.