Voorovergebogen man Possibly 1873

Cornelis Springer made this pencil drawing of a hunched man, likely in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-19th century. The sketch gives us a fleeting glimpse into the social fabric of the Netherlands during a period of rapid urban development. As cities grew, so did the gap between the rich and the poor. Does this man stoop because of age, or does his posture reflect something about the burdens of labor? We might also wonder about the institutions that would shape how a drawing like this would be received. Was it intended for public display? Was it a private exercise? The Rijksmuseum offers rich archives and collections which would allow the social historian to understand this image and its role in 19th century Dutch society with greater precision.