Artwork
Schlawack mit Fohrdecken (Slavic Mat Seller)
Schlawack mit Fohrdecken (Slavic Mat Seller) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Friedrich August Brand. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Friedrich August Brand produced an engraving combined with etching in 1775 that depicts a solitary figure burdened with a large, rolled mat. Rendered on laid paper, the print captures the strain of the individual as he attempts to balance the heavy load on his back.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, dressed in a wide-brimmed hat, long coat and boots, appears exhausted, suggesting the hardships of itinerant trade. The title identifies him as a "Slavic Mat Seller," indicating a traveling merchant who transports his wares across regions, emphasizing themes of labor and mobility.
Technique & Style
Brand employed a hybrid process, beginning with engraving to define precise lines, then adding etching to achieve softer tonal variations. The rough texture of the laid paper and the incised strokes give the image a hand‑drawn quality, while the interplay of line and shade conveys the weight of the mat.
History & Provenance
Created in the late eighteenth century, the print reflects the period’s interest in genre scenes of everyday labor. It is catalogued among Brand’s early works and has been held in several European print collections, illustrating the artist’s engagement with printmaking as a means of disseminating social observations.
Artist & collection
