Stehender Maler mit Malgerät (Pinsel, Mappe, Schirm) 

Carl Steffeck rendered this watercolor sketch of a painter with his tools, sometime in the 19th century. Watercolor possesses an inherent fluidity, which Steffeck exploits here. The medium allows for quick, spontaneous strokes, evident in the figure’s loosely defined attire and the rapid suggestion of the painter’s equipment—the brushes, portfolio, and easel. The thin washes of pigment create a sense of lightness, almost as if the figure is caught in a fleeting moment. The choice of watercolor, rather than a more laborious medium like oil paint, speaks to the work's function as a sketch - capturing the artist himself, perhaps as he paused between works. The speed of the medium is palpable, reflecting the rhythm of artistic labor in the 19th century. Ultimately, by choosing this medium and technique, Steffeck blurs the lines between the artist's identity and the tools that define his trade.