This is a drawing of a figure digging while numerous figures work in the background. The figure in the foreground is bent over with a determined expression, holding a spade used for digging into the ground. Clad in elaborate attire with a detailed headscarf and jacket, the figure seems out of place in their manual labor setting. In the background, there is a line of figures wearing uniforms, with their heads mostly pointed forward, being guided by another uniformed figure holding a stick. The scene implies a contrast of roles with its focus on the hard work and aristocratic features of the central figure against the disciplined labor in the background. The style of drawing strongly suggests a likeness to 19th-century caricature.
Artwork Details
- Date
- 1854
- Medium
- lithograph
- Dimensions
- 4000 × 3565 px
- Public Domain
- Yes
- Museum Record
- View original