Artwork
Man Sitting on a Cask on a Wheelbarrow
Man Sitting on a Cask on a Wheelbarrow is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Jacob van Strij. It dates from 1787 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1787, this drawing by Dutch artist Jacob van Strij shows a solitary figure perched on a wooden barrel that rests inside a wheelbarrow.
Created circa 1787, this drawing by Dutch artist Jacob van Strij shows a solitary figure perched on a wooden barrel that rests inside a wheelbarrow. The composition is rendered on laid paper with graphite outlines softened by a gray wash, giving the scene a muted, observational quality. The figure faces away from the viewer, set against a faintly indicated urban skyline and sparse trees in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures an everyday moment: a man, dressed in a practical wide‑brimmed hat and loose coat, rests his weight on the cask while holding the wheelbarrow’s handles with one hand and his knee with the other. The pose suggests a brief pause in labor, offering a quiet glimpse into the routines of ordinary life in an 18th‑century Dutch setting.
Technique & Style
Van Strij employed a restrained documentary approach, using graphite to define the basic forms and a soft gray wash to model light and shadow. The tonal range is limited, emphasizing the silhouette of the wheelbarrow and the subtle gradations of the ground beneath it. Details are intentionally sparse, allowing the overall shape and atmosphere to dominate the image.
History & Provenance
The drawing belongs to the later period of van Strij’s career, when he produced numerous studies of rural and urban scenes. It reflects his interest in capturing the visual record of daily activities. The piece has remained in private collections before entering a museum holding of Dutch drawings, where it is catalogued as an example of his graphic work from the 1780s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob van Strij (2 October 1756 – 4 February 1815) was a Dutch painter, printmaker, and draftsman who was mainly interested in landscape painting, including mountain landscapes, winter landscapes and marines.
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