Twee schetsen van twee vrouwen met een kind en een liggende man met een hond 1770 - 1825

Simon Andreas Krausz made this pencil drawing, "Twee schetsen van twee vrouwen met een kind en een liggende man met een hond," sometime between 1760 and 1825. Krausz lived through a period of significant social upheaval, including the rise of industrialization and shifting class structures. This drawing offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. In the upper portion, women and a child are seen, perhaps engaged in daily labor. Below, a man rests with his dog, creating a contrast between work and respite, perhaps alluding to the different lived experiences of men and women. The sketch-like quality evokes a sense of intimacy, inviting us to consider our own relationships to labor, leisure, and companionship. Are these people in poverty? Or simply working class? What does it mean to sketch them as the world is on the cusp of modernity? This artwork reflects the human experience of the artist while capturing a moment in time.