Zwei stehende Mädchen und ein - vom linken Bildrand überschnittener - sich bückender Mann, der vom Rücken gesehen ist c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus created this watercolor wash drawing titled Zwei stehende Mädchen und ein - vom linken Bildrand überschnittener - sich bückender Mann, der vom Rücken gesehen ist which translates to “Two Standing Girls and a Man - cut off by the left edge of the picture - bending over, seen from the back”. Kraus's work offers a glimpse into the societal norms and gendered expectations of the late 18th century. Here, the two young women are depicted in a straightforward manner, their clothing suggesting a modest, working-class background. The bending man, cropped and seen from the back, introduces an element of voyeurism. Is he working or merely intruding? The contrast in their representation invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking, and how these dynamics play out across lines of gender and class. This image, while simple in its presentation, subtly reveals the complexities of social interaction and the gaze, reminding us that what we choose to see—and how we see it—is always shaped by our own perspectives and biases.