Zwei sitzende junge Schwarzwaldbauern, der linke von vorne, der rechte vom Rücken gesehen c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus created this pen and watercolor drawing titled "Two Seated Young Black Forest Peasants" in the 18th century. Kraus was director of the Weimar Princely Free Drawing School, and moved in literary circles. The drawing depicts two young men in traditional Black Forest attire; note the distinctive hats and the loose, comfortable clothing, indicative of their rural lifestyle. Kraus captures the peasants with a sense of dignity, yet there’s also an element of the picturesque, fitting into the era’s fascination with rural life. The Black Forest region, known for its unique cultural identity, is here presented as a place of tradition and simplicity. While seemingly a straightforward depiction, the drawing also hints at the complexities of identity and representation, particularly the romanticized view of rural communities. Kraus invites us to reflect on how we perceive and portray different social groups, and what values we project onto them. The men appear content, reflecting perhaps how Kraus and his contemporaries idealized country life.