Jagertje 1770 - 1825

Simon Andreas Krausz made this drawing, Jagertje, with graphite. Krausz, born in the mid-18th century, lived in a society undergoing significant transformation. The Enlightenment ideals of reason and individualism were challenging traditional social hierarchies, influencing art and culture. This sketch depicts a hunter, or "Jager," a figure often romanticized in art and literature. But who were these hunters? Were they landed gentry engaging in leisure, or were they individuals tasked with providing for their families? Krausz captures a figure in motion, with the suggestion of labor and movement that stands in stark contrast to static aristocratic portraiture. There is a tension in the image between the hunter's potential freedom in nature and the constraints of his societal role. As you look at Jagertje, consider how Krausz uses the simplicity of line to suggest a complex interplay between identity, labor, and the natural world.