Zittende en liggende figuren aan een kade c. 1868s - 1878s

This sketch of figures on a quay was created by Jan Willem van Borselen. Born in the Netherlands in 1825, Van Borselen lived during a time of significant social and economic change. This work invites us to consider the everyday lives of ordinary people. Van Borselen's sketch provides a glimpse into the experiences of those who lived and worked by the water. The artist captures the figures in moments of rest and repose. There is an inherent dignity afforded to his subjects despite, or perhaps because of, their circumstances. The artist doesn’t glorify labor. Instead, he seems interested in capturing the humanity of his subjects as they momentarily escape from their toils. What does it mean to pause, to reflect, and to simply be? Van Borselen gently suggests that such moments are not only necessary but also profoundly humanizing.