Kees van Oeveren

Kees van Oeveren

Jan Stolker

1764

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a serious-looking man in a hat and coat, framed by a wavy line like he’s in a spotlight. Around him, a monkey clings to a pole, a dog sits below, and tiny figures scurry in the background. The whole scene is packed into a tight, busy space with lots of text and odd little details. The artist used a mix of sharp lines and rough shading to make the picture feel lively and full of energy. The monkey and dog seem to be mocking the man, who looks like he’s being judged or teased. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.

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