Blinde borstelmaker 1868 - 1892

Anthon Gerhard Alexander van Rappard made this drawing of a blind brush maker, using graphite on paper. The artist has used a soft pencil, allowing for a range of tones to render the scene. You can see the rough texture of the paper and the visible strokes, giving the image a sense of immediacy. The figure of the brush maker hunches intently over his work. His hands, worn and skilled, are the focal point. He seems completely absorbed in the labor before him. The lines are more defined around the face and hands, suggesting an attempt to highlight the humanity of labor. In its time, a drawing like this would have been considered apart from the realm of 'high art'. Yet it provides insight into the social and economic realities of labor. It asks us to consider the value of craft and the dignity of the individual worker. By depicting the man with such care, the artist elevates the everyday.