Portrait of Albert Verwey

1885

The poet Verwey was the young leader of the Tachtigers (those of the 80s) – an influential group of writers and artists who around 1885 wanted to shake up cultural life. Unlike most of his comrades, Verwey came from a working-class background. In this portrait, Jan Veth, a fellow Tachtiger, captured Verwey’s humble origins and rebellious nature. The portrait can thus be seen as the visualization of the Beweging van Tachtig (’80s Movement).