Stehender barfüßiger Knabe mit breitkrempigem Hut und einem Stab c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus made this study of a barefoot boy with a hat and staff, using graphite on paper. The choice of materials here speaks volumes. Graphite, a relatively common mineral, allows for quick, almost furtive sketching. The apparent haste and simplicity underscore the drawing's function as a study, a preparation for something more. The artist is thinking through the problem of how to represent a figure. But the figure itself is also doing work. The boy’s bare feet and simple clothing hint at a life of labor, contrasting with the leisure often associated with art creation. We might wonder, who is this boy? Is he a romanticized shepherd, or a child laborer? Kraus is not only capturing the boy’s likeness but also hinting at broader social conditions. By considering the drawing's materiality and subject, we can see how Kraus blurs the lines between observation, artistic practice, and social commentary.