Werkman in katoenververij 1868 - 1892

Anthon Gerhard Alexander van Rappard made this pencil drawing, Werkman in katoenververij, or Worker in a Cotton Dye Works. Van Rappard was deeply committed to depicting the lives of the working class, reflecting the social consciousness that was emerging in the late 19th century. Here, the artist captures a figure in quiet labor. The worker’s posture and attire speak to the physical demands of his job. Notice the wooden shoes, a marker of working-class identity in the Netherlands. The muted tones and the intimate scale of the drawing create a sense of empathy. Van Rappard does not romanticize the worker, but rather portrays him with dignity. He challenges the traditional art world, which often overlooked or misrepresented the working class. The artist draws attention to the individual humanity within the broader context of industrial labor.