A Man Lifting a Trunk, Two studies on one sheet 1792

George Morland captured these two studies of a man lifting a trunk on a single sheet using graphite. The composition is simple, focusing primarily on the human form and the trunk, with minimal background detail. The upper figure dominates the space with the man hunched over a large, rounded trunk. Morland's use of line is particularly striking. He employs a network of short, energetic strokes to delineate form and suggest volume. The hatching creates a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the clothing and the trunk itself. Notice how the artist plays with light and shadow, using darker lines to define the areas of greatest shadow, adding weight to the figure and the object he strains to lift. The lower figure offers a different perspective, showing a man kneeling beside a smaller, rectangular trunk. This second study complements the first, underscoring the physical effort and the quotidian nature of labor. Morland’s sketches, though simple, invite us to consider the dignity of everyday actions, capturing a transient moment with careful observation.