Fabrieksjongen aan het werk, op de rug gezien 1868 - 1892

Anthon Gerhard Alexander van Rappard sketched "Fabrieksjongen aan het werk, op de rug gezien" with graphite on paper. The sketch captures a factory boy hard at work, emphasizing the labor involved through the medium of graphite. The stark lines and shading, achieved with a humble material like graphite, create a sense of immediacy. You can almost feel the repetitive motion of his hands, performing labor that was likely tedious and underpaid. The artist’s focus on the boy's labor, depicted through a common medium, underscores the dignity and humanity inherent in the act of making, regardless of social status. By choosing simple materials to depict a scene of labor, Van Rappard elevates the everyday into art. It challenges us to consider the value we place on different forms of making, and how art can draw attention to broader social issues.