Zittende man met een lap bont 1829 - 1894

This is Jan Ensing's "Zittende man met een lap bont," or "Seated Man with a Piece of Fur," made with pen and watercolor. Although undated, Ensing was active in the Netherlands throughout the mid to late 19th century, a period of significant social and political change. Ensing's art reflects the everyday life of the common person, a theme that gained prominence as art academies opened their doors to a wider range of social classes. Here, we see an ordinary man, likely a furrier, his simple attire indicative of his working-class status. The choice of watercolor lends itself to documentary realism over grand gestures. The man's calm, introspective gaze hints at a character study. For art historians, this image offers a glimpse into the social fabric of the Netherlands during the industrial era, we might delve into municipal records and census data, revealing the demographics and economic conditions of the time. Such resources allow us to understand the lives and experiences of the people represented in art, and what the public role of art was at that time.