signed with monogram ‘J C: d’A. G.’ (recto)
graphite, pen and brown ink
20.5 x 14.9 cm

Born in The Hague in 1823, d' Arnaud Gerkens remained in that city until his death in 1892. He was in The Hague at the Akademie van Beeldende Kunsten in 1841-1842 by Lodewijk Anthony Vintcent and became a successful portrait artist, as well as a lithographer. He was a board member of Pulchri Studio and he trained several artists, among them Sina Mesdag-van Houten and Barbara Elisabeth van Houten. The present drawing is characteristic of the artist’s style, and it can be closely compared to his lithographed illustrations. While it was probably not intended to be translated into a print (it was more likely drawn for a friend in an album amicorum), the use of trees and foliage to divide the drawing’s different subjects can be found in several prints. Two of these are satirical prints made for the Leiden student’s almanacs from 1854 and 1856.

Central in this drawing is a man, probably d' Arnaud Gerkens himself, holding a poem. The poem states that this drawing is the first page of the book it was drawn for and that the drawings from that book are commemorative of the youthful years of the artist and his friend. The scenes surrounding it, most probably are from the life d' Arnaud Gerkens’ friend. The sheet is thus a wonderful personal testimony of the friendship between the artist and one of his close (student) friends.

I am grateful to Eva Geudeker for identifying the author of the present drawing.