Arbeider in katoenfabriek, in de roodververij 1868 - 1892

Anthon Gerhard Alexander van Rappard created this pencil drawing titled ‘Arbeider in katoenfabriek, in de roodververij,’ which translates to ‘Worker in a cotton factory, in the red dye works.’ Van Rappard, though from a privileged background, often depicted the lives of working-class people, a subject that was gaining attention during the rise of industrialization and social reform movements. Here, the worker is seen as part of the machinery, almost consumed by the industrial process. What does it mean to see labor in this way? There is a striking absence of color. Van Rappard chose to portray the scene in monochromatic shades, voiding the 'red dye works' of its defining characteristic. Perhaps, this choice emphasizes the draining, dehumanizing aspects of labor. It provokes reflection on the social and economic structures that shape individual experiences, and the emotional impact of such environments on the lives of laborers.