Schets van een man op een ezel c. 1650 - 1690

This is a sketch of a man on a donkey, made by Peter Paul Rubens, likely in the early 17th century. The sketch offers a glimpse into the world of the artist during the Baroque era, a time of immense social hierarchy. Rubens, as a celebrated artist, occupied a privileged position, yet this image hints at the lives of others. Donkeys, often associated with labor, were common in the lives of working-class individuals. The man's posture suggests weariness, perhaps mirroring the burdens and toils of the less privileged. In a society marked by strict social stratification, depictions of ordinary people provided a narrative. Even a simple sketch like this evokes questions about the lives and experiences of those who existed outside the circles of power.