Lopende man op klompen 1834 - 1903

This is Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch's quick sketch of a 'Lopende man op klompen', or 'Running man on clogs', made with pencil on paper. Weissenbruch was a key figure in the Hague School, a group of Dutch realist painters who captured the everyday lives of ordinary people and the beauty of the Dutch landscape. He was working in a time when the Netherlands was undergoing significant social and economic changes, with industrialization and urbanization transforming traditional ways of life. This simple sketch of a man hurrying along in his clogs captures a fleeting moment in the life of a working-class individual. Clogs, traditionally worn by farmers and laborers, are a symbol of Dutch identity and practicality. The sketch offers an intimate glimpse into the daily existence of ordinary people, where the simple act of moving from place to place could be a defining feature of one's identity. It reminds us of the emotional and personal connection we all have to our daily routines and the objects that shape them.