Het uithalen van het aardewerk uit de oven van De Sphinx te Maastricht 1881 - 1948

Herman Heijenbrock’s ‘Het uithalen van het aardewerk uit de oven van De Sphinx te Maastricht’ is a drawing that captures the workers in this pottery factory. You can feel the artist empathizing with the workers, documenting their everyday lives and the physical demands of the job. I imagine Heijenbrock, charcoal in hand, capturing the scene with muted colors – lots of greys and browns to reflect the factory setting. It's really about the weight and texture of the materials that gives the work its depth. The artist uses light and shadow to create depth and volume. The bodies of the workers almost become sculptures through the way the light casts on their bodies and uniforms. Look at how the workers are drawn, each with their own story and task; it's a community hard at work, lifting and shifting the ceramics out of the oven. We can feel the heat and see the physical labor involved. The act of drawing itself—laying down each line with care—becomes a way of honouring these workers. It’s as if the artist is saying, "I see you, and I value your work," continuing the long tradition of artists who celebrate the everyday.