Mannenkoppen en een karikaturale kop van een man met een versierde hoed en strik om de nek c. 1894

Julie de Graag made this drawing of men’s heads and a caricatured head of a man with a decorated hat and bow tie, using graphite on paper. The nature of graphite as a material—easily applied, easily erased—invites quick studies and loose sketches. The figures emerge from the page with minimal detail, capturing a sense of fleeting observation. We see a contrast between the sharply defined lines of the caricatured head and the softer, less defined features of the other heads. While the artwork is seemingly simple, De Graag engages with the rich history of drawing as a medium for both practice and personal expression, and is also part of a larger cultural conversation about the representation of class and identity. By focusing on the materials and the quick, expressive marks, we can appreciate the skill and intention behind this drawing, which transcends the traditional boundaries between fine art and craft.