Man met lieslaarzen en een touw 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch made this work titled ‘Man with Thigh Boots and a Rope’ with pen in the 19th Century. The figure is presented in full, and the image is dominated by linear patterns and contrasts that evoke a certain depth and texture. Weissenbruch’s work is intriguing, mainly due to its concentration on formal elements and use of structuralist principles. The attention to detail in the man’s attire and the textures created through dense, rhythmic lines point to a deep engagement with the semiotics of representation. The high boots, the rope, and the laced vest function as signs, each hinting at stories of labor, resilience, and a connection to the natural world. The artwork is also notable for what it destabilizes: It doesn't provide a romantic vision of rural life but presents a matter-of-fact depiction of a working man. The composition and attention to detail serve not just aesthetic purposes but engage in a broader cultural discourse about the dignity of labor and the realities of the 19th-century worker.