Man in gebed 1836 - 1912

This small drawing, *Man in gebed*, was made by Isaac Weissenbruch at an unknown date, with pen on paper. The pen lines vary in weight, but the drawing has a sketchy, unfinished quality that contributes to its feeling of intimacy. The artist has captured a moment of private contemplation. The quick, efficient marks suggests that the work was created ‘en plein air’ as a quick impression of a man in prayer, maybe during some period of his life when he was living among more working-class or rural people. Weissenbruch was part of the Hague School, and his work reflected the aesthetic of Dutch Realism. The attention to everyday life and ordinary people is typical of this movement. Ultimately, this drawing, like many works on paper, reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of careful technique and considered choices, and that the context of making informs its meaning.