Staande man met een laars in de hand 1811 - 1873

Curator: Here we have "Standing Man with a Boot in his Hand," attributed to Pieter van Loon, who was active between 1811 and 1873. It's an ink drawing on paper. Editor: Oh, my! He looks like he’s had a rough morning, and it definitely hasn't perked up yet. All sepia-toned gloom. Curator: The use of sepia wash is interesting, giving the artwork an antique feel. Notice the details: the carefully rendered wrinkles in his clothing and the somber expression, they all point towards the influence of Romanticism, focusing on individual experience and emotion. Editor: Romanticism with a capital "R," right? It's the slight caricature feel, and the way he's holding that boot... It's like he's contemplating a really profound existential problem that can only be solved by this darn boot! There’s a quiet absurdity to the whole composition that amuses me. Curator: Absolutely. He might be a character from a genre painting reflecting a slice of ordinary life or a societal type. He appears to be wearing the clothes of a lower-class tradesman, perhaps someone involved in the shoe trade. He may have spent a considerable amount of time working outdoors because of the boots. Editor: Or maybe he’s just really attached to that boot. You know, like Wilson the volleyball in *Cast Away*. The slouch hints at introspection. Was van Loon aiming for psychological depth, or just capturing a passing character? I'm leaning toward the boot being his therapist! Curator: Or a muse! Given the focus on feeling and emotion in Romanticism, I think van Loon definitely suggests a depth to this common character, ennobling his very ordinariness. I imagine that everyday folk felt very seen by representations such as this drawing. Editor: Well, either way, it’s a good reminder to hug your boots. Never know when you might need to ponder existence with one. This sepia contemplation is charming, though perhaps I need to call a boot-repairman for mine!