Ein junger und ein alter Schweizer Bauer, der junge stehend mit einem Stab, der alte sitzend c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus made this pen and watercolor drawing of Swiss farmers. The materials are modest, and the technique direct. Kraus's rapid strokes and washes convey a scene of everyday life. But if you look closer, you can see that the choice of medium is itself significant. Watercolor was often used for preparatory sketches, or for topographical studies. Kraus has taken what might have been considered a minor technique and applied it to the subject of labor. Consider the context: as the industrial revolution began to transform Europe, there was a growing interest in images of rural life. These drawings, paintings, and prints, idealized peasant culture, and often glossed over the hardships of agricultural work. Kraus’s image invites us to reflect on the amount of labor required to produce food, fiber, and raw materials, as well as the relationship between urban and rural economies. In this way, Kraus elevates the status of his subjects, and validates the experiences of ordinary people. It’s a reminder that all art, even the most seemingly simple, is deeply connected to the world around it.