Staande man met ratel en stok 1778 - 1838

Curator: Let's spend a moment with "Standing Man with Rattle and Stick," an ink and pen drawing by Anthonie van den Bos, made sometime between 1778 and 1838, here at the Rijksmuseum. What’s your immediate take? Editor: Crumpled. That's the word that jumps out. The clothes, the face, the very lines themselves… everything feels delightfully, intentionally crumpled. Like a well-loved story. Curator: Well said. You can practically feel the roughness of the paper, can't you? Notice how Van den Bos uses pen and ink with such evident freedom. The hatching suggests the weight of the cloth, yet remains open, raw. I suspect a well used sketchbook. Editor: I'm also drawn to the tools and the implements depicted, that’s what I like about this. Not just the stick, but also the… is that a wood block and mallet? There's something very immediate and utilitarian here, less a refined portrait and more a sketch documenting labor. Curator: Ah, excellent point. Perhaps a common tradesman then? He could also just be going for a walk. One could venture the artist had an imagination. The stick resembles a wizard’s staff as much as it does walking stick, especially with that impish glint in his eye. There is a touch of the Romantic's fascination with the everyman but imbued with personality. Editor: Absolutely. And it's precisely that intersection, the merging of labor and material conditions with romantic ideals, that makes it so compelling. This isn’t about celebrating aristocratic refinement; it’s about grounding artistry in the tangible. The weight of his tools… I wonder what stories they could tell. Who made them? Who uses them today? Curator: You see it extending into a deeper exploration of materials. I look at him and think how the lines form to express, as you said, both material and emotional states. What kind of person makes a rattle? It reminds me of folk tales. Editor: Right. We’re drawn into these dialogues about work and labor that reflect the society from which this image arises. Every choice, every sketched line feels laden with cultural implication and possibility, and maybe a bit of societal observation on Van den Bos's part. Curator: Exactly. Seeing him there with that curious ensemble, one can wonder where his path will lead. It's about possibilities, a snapshot that encapsulates a world. Editor: Indeed. It's a wonderful piece to ponder material conditions, and how, over time, those conditions change. Or, perhaps, frustratingly, stay the same. Thanks for showing it to me.