Handkar en een figuur 1834 - 1903

Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch sketched "Handkar en een figuur" using graphite, likely in the mid-19th century. His work captures the rural labour and landscapes of the Netherlands. This simple sketch depicts a handcart, a common sight, used for transporting goods in a time of agrarian and early industrial transition. To the right, a lone figure appears, providing scale and a human presence amidst the tools of labour. The sketch, with its sparse details, hints at the lives of the working class. Weissenbruch often sought to portray the everyday experiences of Dutch citizens, reflecting a broader cultural interest in realism and the dignity of labour. The immediacy of the sketch invites us to consider the physical and social realities of 19th-century workers. It is a reminder of the human effort that underlies economic activity. Consider what this sketch conveys about Dutch society.