A Little Rustic c. late 19th century

George Clausen created this ink drawing, "A Little Rustic," to capture the likeness of a young girl. The title suggests an interest in the countryside, and rural life was a popular subject for artists like Clausen in the late 19th century. At this time, a growing population was moving from the countryside to the city in search of work. In England, there was a strong artistic movement that looked back to the land, often in a nostalgic way. Thinkers like John Ruskin emphasized the moral value of rural labor. The Arts and Crafts movement, with its emphasis on traditional skills, was a response to the rise of industrial production. In its simplicity, Clausen's drawing participates in this celebration of unadorned country life. While the girl's steady gaze is quite direct, the title, “A Little Rustic”, suggests that the girl's identity is nevertheless defined by her relationship to the land. To understand this drawing better, we might look at the artist's other works and writings. We could also research the popularity of rural subjects in Victorian England.