Italienerdreng med kurv 1810 - 1873

Wilhelm Marstrand made this drawing of an Italian boy with a basket using graphite on paper. Marstrand employs traditional artist's materials to depict what was, in his time, an everyday scene. The material influence on the drawing is evident in the varying line weights and the delicate shading that models the boy's form, the texture of his clothing, and the woven basket. You can see that Marstrand has worked with a dry medium that allows for a high level of control and detail. The basket, expertly woven by an anonymous craftsperson, probably represents the boy's contribution to his family's income. In this respect, the drawing is interesting, as it is made by an artist who is from a different class than the boy he depicts. The drawing reminds us that all art is made, one way or another, from something real. By considering both the material and the social context of this work, we can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and its relationship to the world around it.