Dimensions: height 293 mm, width 357 mm, height 329 mm, width 391 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Henk Henriët made this drawing of two farmers in a landscape, likely with charcoal or pencil, though its date is unknown. There's something so straightforward, yet affecting, about the tonal range here. Henriët makes a virtue of simplicity. Look at the marks building up the figures of the men, dark and light, to create a sense of volume. The dark smudges under their feet suggest the weight of their labor as they carry that beam. It is a study in human form and toil. The cross-hatched lines are not concealed, but left bare to suggest a mood. The image feels reminiscent of some of the social realist prints of the WPA era. Perhaps Henriët's work resonates with artists like Elizabeth Catlett, who shared a similar interest in representing working-class subjects with dignity and empathy. Art isn’t about answers. It’s more about keeping the conversation going.
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