Man in een leunstoel after 1769

This pen drawing of a man in a chair was made by an anonymous artist. The posture of the sitter in this small drawing projects an attitude of thoughtful leisure, perhaps indicative of the social class and gender of the time. During this period, the Dutch Republic saw shifts in social structures and cultural norms, with an emphasis on trade, individualism, and a burgeoning merchant class. This image, though simple, provides a glimpse into the lives of those who had the privilege to occupy such leisurely and contemplative moments. The artist's anonymity invites us to reflect on who gets remembered, and whose stories are lost to history. What narratives are missing from the historical record? What stories remain untold?