Knabe in Rückansicht, die Rechte weisend erhoben 

Johann Heinrich Roos made this drawing, "Knabe in Rückansicht, die Rechte weisend erhoben," in the 17th century with pen and brown ink and gray wash on paper. The drawing depicts a young boy from the back, pointing with his right hand. Roos was working in a period where art academies were becoming increasingly important. These academies standardized artistic training and promoted certain styles and subjects, often at the expense of others. Roos, however, seemed more interested in everyday life. He specialized in animal paintings and scenes of rural life, subjects that were not always considered prestigious by the academies. This drawing of a boy, while a study, also fits into that broader interest in everyday life. Understanding this drawing requires looking at the social and institutional context in which Roos was working. We can research the history of the art academies, the market for different types of paintings, and the social status of artists. By doing so, we can understand how Roos’s work challenged and subverted the norms of his time.