Staande man met de hand op de rug, op de rug gezien 1770 - 1825

Simon Andreas Krausz made this drawing of a standing man with charcoal on paper sometime before 1825. The inherent qualities of charcoal – its softness and ease of blending – have imbued this artwork with a sense of depth and volume, particularly in the figure's clothing. Charcoal is made by burning wood in a low-oxygen environment, a process with ancient roots. The technique demands control of fire and careful selection of materials, skills honed over centuries. The artist’s hand is evident in the smudged lines and subtle gradations of tone, demonstrating a deep understanding of the material's potential. But we might also reflect on the relationship between artist and subject here. A man, seen from the back, his labor obscured from our view. The medium of charcoal itself has an intimate connection to work – the transformation of raw material through the application of heat and pressure. This modest drawing asks us to consider the amount of work involved, not only in the art itself, but in the life of its subject as well.