Man met stok, op de rug gezien 1741 - 1820

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a genre painting rendered in ink on paper titled "Man met stok, op de rug gezien", or "Man with Stick, Seen from the Back", attributed to Abraham Delfos, and dating to sometime between 1741 and 1820. Editor: From where I'm standing, it's just a drawing of a man's back! A rather vulnerable back, actually. I get a feeling of solitary wandering. Curator: What strikes me about this particular drawing is the suggestion of labor implied simply through posture. Look at how he holds the stick – likely used for guiding or supporting – which speaks volumes about physical work and perhaps his societal standing. Consider also how neoclassical ideals favored elevating everyday subjects to impart moral lessons through accessible forms. Editor: Yes, he really is schlepping, isn't he? Neoclassical accessibility is interesting. It’s very subtle here—it’s almost buried. Maybe the moral lesson is about endurance, or quiet perseverance? I imagine the paper itself feels smooth but worn, absorbent against the artist’s hand as the ink spreads, defining muscle, bone, and burdened clothing. Curator: The use of ink wash to model the figure showcases how the artist skillfully used readily available materials to create a nuanced depiction of an ordinary subject. Notice also the deliberate use of negative space to highlight certain areas and create depth. The process itself reflects an effort to find elegance in the commonplace through accessible techniques and materials. Editor: I bet Delfos encountered people just like him everyday on his stroll to the market or visiting his neighbors; men in humble trades that keep society functioning as they perform mostly unnoticed actions... This has charm. It humanizes history, which can feel remote or impersonal to so many museum visitors. I love the intimacy of something like this. Curator: Indeed. Viewing the artwork through the lens of production reveals not only artistic ingenuity, but it allows us to reevaluate our perception of social hierarchy by elevating labor itself. Editor: It makes me consider all of those countless unsung figures who have trudged through life's journey with little more than a stick and sheer grit to depend on.