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

This pencil drawing by George Morland, created in 1792, features two studies of a man lifting a trunk. The top study depicts the man in profile, seen from behind, as he strains to lift the heavy object. Below, the man is shown in a more frontal view, kneeling with his back towards the viewer, concentrating intensely on his task. These quick sketches are characteristic of Morland’s style, which often focused on the everyday lives of working people, capturing their struggles and resilience.