Dronkaard op een kruiwagen voortgeduwd door een groep mannen op straat 1838 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch made this drawing titled 'Drunkard in a wheelbarrow pushed by a group of men on the street' during the 19th century, a period marked by significant social changes and industrial growth. Weissenbruch captures a scene of public life, reflecting the era’s attitudes towards class, morality and public order. The central figure, the drunkard, embodies the social issues often associated with the working class during this time. He is being carted along, possibly to his home or to some form of public ridicule. We might consider the performance of masculinity here: what does it mean to be drunk, policed, and helpless in public? The men pushing and overseeing the wheelbarrow represent the societal structures, such as law enforcement or community watch, attempting to maintain order. Weissenbruch invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between individual behavior, social norms, and the exercise of power. This drawing isn't just a depiction of an inebriated man, it reflects broader societal judgments and mechanisms of control, prompting us to consider our own roles in observing and judging others.