Herder zittend op en leunend tegen een steen 1827 - 1891

This drawing of a shepherd, leaning on a stone, was made by Johannes Bosboom in the 19th century using graphite on paper. The artist has used the material in such a way that it captures a fleeting impression of the subject. Looking closely at the image, the quickly applied strokes of graphite give the drawing a sense of immediacy. The figures' form emerges through the variation in line weight. The artist has used hatching and cross-hatching to create tone and shadow. Consider the relationship between labor and leisure, and how the artist captures a moment of respite in the shepherd's working life. The work is a quick sketch, but it is no less evocative for that. The drawing captures a sense of everyday life, and the world of work. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that the meaning of art is not just in the subject matter, but in the materials and the making, reflecting social context.