Study of a Man 19th-20th century

Edward Henry Potthast made this drawing, "Study of a Man," in the late 19th or early 20th century, and we can see it today at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This sketch gives us a glimpse into the world of labor and class during the time it was made. Notice the man's posture, bent over his work, and his simple attire; we can assume he is from the working or middle class. What's interesting is that Potthast, as an academically trained artist, chose to represent this kind of everyday subject. He did, like many artists of his day, study at academies in Europe. He would have likely been trained in the established hierarchy of genres, where scenes of everyday life were seen as less important than grand historical or mythological scenes. By focusing on the common man, Potthast's work challenges these traditional values within the art institution. Art historians use a range of resources, from exhibition records to personal letters, to understand an artist's intentions and the social context in which they operated, revealing how art reflects and shapes cultural values.