Man die soep zit te eten 1865 - 1930

Here is Jac van Looij's drawing of a man eating soup. Van Looij, who lived from 1855 to 1930, operated within a cultural milieu increasingly concerned with representing the working class. This small drawing captures an intimate moment: a man entirely focused on the simple act of eating. His eyes are closed, and his entire being seems to be consumed by this act of nourishment. Look at the lines around his eyes and mouth, which suggest a life marked by hardship, yet there's a quiet dignity in his concentration. The inscription, written in Dutch on the bottom right reads 'volksgaarkeuken', which refers to a public soup kitchen. Consider the social context: soup kitchens often emerged as a response to poverty. Van Looij does not shy away from showing us the human face of poverty, and the restorative power of community support. He captures the individual's experience and reflects a broader societal concern for those struggling to meet their basic needs.