Rokende man op een kruk, op de rug gezien 1844

Charles Jacque created this etching, "Rokende man op een kruk, op de rug gezien," depicting a man smoking while seated on a stool. Jacque made this print during a time of significant social change in France, with urbanization and industrialization impacting traditional ways of life. We see a man from the back, an everyman who finds solace in a simple act. The smoke might symbolize a longing for escape from the rapid changes of the era. His posture and simple clothing speak to a working-class identity. What's fascinating is the intimacy Jacque creates despite the man’s anonymity. The image draws us into a shared moment of contemplation, a pause in the midst of societal transformation.