Artwork
Küchenträger (Food Carrier)
Küchenträger (Food Carrier) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Johann Feigel. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johann Feigel’s 1775 print titled Küchenträger (Food Carrier) presents a solitary figure burdened with two large sacks, one in each hand. Rendered in black and white on laid paper, the composition captures the physical strain of the laborer, whose stiff posture and weary expression emphasize the demanding nature of his occupation.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a food carrier, a recognized occupation in eighteenth‑century Europe responsible for transporting provisions to markets or households. By focusing on the carrier’s exhausted demeanor, Feigel highlights the often‑overlooked toil of urban workers, offering a glimpse into the social realities of daily life during the period.
Technique & Style
Feigel employed a combination of engraving and etching, allowing for both precise line work and nuanced tonal variation. The etched areas provide soft shading that models the figure’s clothing and the heavy bags, while the engraved lines define the crisp outlines of the coat, breeches, and cap, creating a balanced interplay of texture and depth.
History & Provenance
Created in 1775, the print belongs to Feigel’s modest output of genre scenes that document contemporary occupations. It survives on laid paper, a common support for prints of the era, and has been catalogued in several collections of eighteenth‑century German graphic art, though its exact ownership trail remains limited to institutional holdings.
Artist & collection
