En gående mand i en meget spraglet frakke, med en bylt på ryggen. Han har en stok i hver hånd. 1826 - 1829

P.C. Skovgaard rendered this small watercolor sketch of a man with a bag and walking sticks sometime in the 19th century. Its size suggests that it was made "on the go" and that it was executed on paper makes it portable and immediate. Look closely at the way Skovgaard used the watercolor paints. Note how the colors are applied in thin washes to build up the figure and ground. The artist's quick and economic application of the medium suggests it was likely a study for a larger, more formal painting. The color palette of greens, blues, and browns gives the figure a sense of being grounded in the natural world, blending the figure into the landscape. This approach acknowledges the dignity of labor. The way the artist uses the medium reflects a desire to observe and record the world around him, to capture a fleeting moment in time and to understand the social context of his subjects. Appreciating the artwork's material qualities and the process by which it was created allows for a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.