Blinde borstelmaker 1868 - 1892

This sensitive drawing by Anthon Gerhard Alexander van Rappard depicts a blind brush maker with humble means. His downcast gaze and worn hands speak volumes. Observe the brush he holds, seemingly incomplete. This motif of incompleteness carries echoes of antiquity. Think of the fragmentary sculptures of antiquity, such as the Belvedere Torso, or the many broken artifacts unearthed throughout history. These remnants of the past, though incomplete, possess a unique power. The incompleteness invites the viewer to project their own interpretations, desires, and memories onto them. Here, the brush maker's blindness mirrors this state of incompleteness, and the viewer is left to consider themes of labor, poverty, and resilience. This invites contemplation and perhaps even a sense of shared humanity. Thus, van Rappard has tapped into an eternal cycle of human experience.