Arbeid 1899

Jan de Waardt created "Arbeid", meaning "Work", a lithograph depicting laborers and a figure in formal attire, around 1893. The stark contrast between the figures immediately strikes the eye. Notice the bent backs of the workers and the upright posture of the bourgeois figure. This composition evokes the ancient motif of labor as a form of burden, reminiscent of classical depictions of Atlas bearing the weight of the world. Yet, here, it is not the world but the societal structure that weighs heavily. The impassive gaze of the bourgeois figure echoes in countless portrayals of the ruling class throughout history, a symbol of detachment from the toils of everyday life. It is a recurring image, a collective memory of inequality that surfaces time and again in art, reflecting our enduring psychological struggle with social disparities. The image serves as a potent symbol, engaging viewers in a subconscious recognition of these ongoing themes.