Study of a Man Walking c. 1910

Editor: Here we have Heinrich Zille’s "Study of a Man Walking," a small charcoal drawing. There's a real sense of weariness conveyed in the figure's posture. What stands out to you? Curator: For me, it’s the starkness of the charcoal itself, the raw material documenting the labor. Zille was invested in depicting working-class life; how does the directness of the medium shape our understanding of that subject? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't thought about it that way. So, you're saying the material connects us to the lived experiences of the working class? Curator: Precisely. The sketch-like quality points to a rapid production, mirroring perhaps the fast pace and conditions of labor during Zille's time. It collapses high art expectations of finish. Editor: That makes the artwork much more powerful. I’ll have to rethink how I approach sketches from now on!