Man zittend werkend aan een zeis voor een huis 1778 - 1838

This etching, "Man Sitting Working on a Scythe in Front of a House," was created by Anthonie van den Bos. Van den Bos was working in the Netherlands at the end of the 18th century. Here we see a man, likely a farm worker, sharpening his scythe. He sits outside what is probably his home, which looks simple and functional. It seems as though he is working to maintain his own equipment, as perhaps no one else will do it for him. It is possible that this image is a social commentary. It could be a critique of the unequal social structures of the day, as the Netherlands saw great disparity between the wealthy merchant classes and the poor farmers. Van den Bos may have even been part of a progressive movement that was looking to critique the art institutions of the day, turning away from high society portraits and landscapes to focus on the life of the common man. To better understand the image, we might look to economic records of the day, along with records from local farmers. Ultimately, interpreting art involves understanding the social and institutional contexts in which it was made.