Rijtje koppen 1840 - 1880

This is ‘Rijtje koppen,’ a series of heads rapidly sketched by Johannes Tavenraat, who was active in the Netherlands in the 19th century. It's made with pen on paper. The character of this work resides almost entirely in the artist's hand and eye. Tavenraat applied the ink in quick, repeated strokes, with particular attention to the profiles of the sitters. The faces are rendered with loose and energetic lines, capturing a sense of fleeting observation. He doesn't seem too worried about getting a perfect likeness. The artist clearly enjoyed the immediacy of the medium, reveling in the capacity of a humble pen to evoke form and character. There is also something very modern about this approach. Tavenraat’s quick and fluid lines remind us that a drawing can be a record of a process, a visible trace of the artist's activity. This piece encourages us to see the value of this kind of skill, and recognize it as no less significant than the final image it produces.