Bukkende figuren c. 1890

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this line drawing, "Bukkende figuren," at an unknown date, but likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. The figures are depicted in poses of labor, bending and kneeling, perhaps in a field. Cachet was Dutch, and in this sketch, we might see the influence of the social realism movement that was prominent in the Netherlands during this time. Artists often turned their attention to the lives of ordinary people, particularly those engaged in manual labor. The loose lines and unfinished quality of the sketch suggest that it might have been a preparatory study for a larger work. This allows us to imagine the artist thinking through how the body relates to labor. Art historians rely on a range of resources, including letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews, to reconstruct the artistic and social context in which an artwork was made. This helps us understand the changing role of art and artists in society.