Zittende mannen en jongens bij een hek c. 1868s - 1878s

Jan Willem van Borselen sketched "Sitting Men and Boys by a Fence" with graphite on paper, capturing a moment of everyday life in the Netherlands. Van Borselen, working in the 19th century, was part of a generation of artists who turned their attention to the local and the ordinary. In this unassuming sketch, we are confronted with questions of class, labor, and the male gaze. The men and boys, likely from the working class, are captured in a moment of repose, their bodies slumped against the fence. The artist subtly invites us to consider their lives beyond this snapshot. What are their stories? What kind of work do they perform? What dreams do they harbor? Van Borselen captures a sense of shared experience and quiet solidarity. In its understated way, this drawing offers a glimpse into the social fabric of the Netherlands.