Lopende man met een schaal c. 1879

Theo Hanrath created this sketch, “Running Man with a Shovel,” using graphite on paper. The immediate impression is one of movement and transience, achieved through the artist’s active lines and the open composition. Observe how Hanrath uses a flurry of rapid strokes to define the figure’s form, creating a sense of urgency. The human figure leans forward with its head down, almost as if the subject is hunched in a rush, or perhaps under pressure. The looseness of the marks conveys a body in motion, a study of form that captures not just what is seen but what is felt, a certain physical strain, or a burden. The drawing's unfinished quality destabilizes the idea of a complete, resolved image, instead emphasizing the fleeting, temporal nature of experience. This reflects a broader artistic interest in capturing the ephemeral moments of modern life. It's the lack of detail, the raw sketchiness that gives this image its power, inviting us to consider what it means to represent movement, labor, and human experience itself.