Mansfiguur op stoel 1770 - 1825

Simon Andreas Krausz created this pencil drawing, titled ‘Man seated on a chair,’ around the turn of the 19th century. The image embodies the spirit of artistic experimentation that swept through Europe at this time. Krausz, born in what is now Slovakia, spent much of his career working in Amsterdam. Here, we see his interest in depicting the individual, a theme that resonated with the emerging social values of the Enlightenment. The man’s relaxed posture and simple attire suggest a departure from the rigid formality of earlier aristocratic portraiture. The sketch-like quality also speaks to a shift in artistic training. Rather than emphasizing polished finishes, academies began to value the artist’s initial impressions and studies. By examining the institutional histories of art academies and the socio-political context of the Enlightenment, we can better appreciate Krausz’s contribution to this transformative era in art.