Knielende man met hoed, die water in een kan laat lopen 1797 - 1838

This drawing of a kneeling man filling a can with water, was created by Johannes Christiaan Schotel. The composition uses line and shading to model the figure, instilling in it a sense of volume. The man's form is hunched and weighted by his labour, and his hat casts a shadow across his brow. The texture rendered by the pencil creates depth and form. There is a subtle tension between realism and the sketch-like quality of the image. The man’s activity seems simple, yet the level of detail suggests a deeper narrative, perhaps about the dignity of labour. The drawing is also a study in contrasts. The light falling on the man's back and shoulder against the shadow of the hat draws our eye and lends an element of drama. Schotel’s work thus elevates the ordinary, prompting contemplation of the quiet, essential tasks that sustain life.