Zittende man 1766 - 1837

Jan van Noort created “Zittende man,” or “Sitting Man,” during a period of significant social and economic change. Van Noort, born in the mid-18th century, lived through a time of shifting class structures and the rise of industrialization. The sketch depicts a man seated, seemingly engrossed in a small task, his clothing suggesting a working-class background. The simple, unadorned depiction avoids idealizing its subject, instead focusing on the dignity of labor. The man's hat shades his face, casting him in a shadow of anonymity, which perhaps speaks to the collective experience of the working class during this era. It invites us to contemplate the narratives of those often overlooked in grand historical accounts, and encourages reflection on the value and representation of labor in art.