Boer met een werktuig en twee kinderen 1885 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen captured this scene of a farmer with his tools and children using graphite on paper. The material itself, humble and readily available, speaks to the everyday nature of the subject. The marks on the page are immediate and unrefined; they describe the set of the farmer's shoulders, the weight of his labor, and the simple presence of the children. Graphite, as a medium, allows for a range of tonal values, creating depth and shadow with an economy of means. The choice of this medium also underscores the connection between art and labor. Drawing, like farming, involves physical exertion and skill. Tholen's sketch elevates this scene of rural life, inviting us to consider the value of work and the dignity of those who till the land. It reminds us that art is not separate from the world but deeply intertwined with the realities of everyday existence.