Figuurstudies c. 1856 - 1861

Cornelis Springer made these "Figuurstudies" with graphite, as quick sketches in a notebook. The studies suggest observations made during the time he lived and worked in the Netherlands. It's important to understand that in 19th century Europe, the rise of Realism and Naturalism in art meant that artists increasingly sought to depict everyday life and ordinary people. Springer, like many of his contemporaries, would have been influenced by this shift in artistic focus and the social values it reflected. These images offer us a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people and their relationship to the social structures of the time. To understand these images better, we need to look at Dutch social history: studies of costume, gender and labor of that period can all contribute to a richer understanding. What seems like a simple sketch opens up to become an archive of information on Dutch society.