1787
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Man Sitting on a Cask on a Wheelbarrow is a 1787 graphite by Jacob van Strij, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
A man sits on a wooden barrel in a wheelbarrow, facing away from us. His wide-brimmed hat and loose coat look practical, not fancy. One hand holds the wheelbarrow’s handles, while the other rests on his knee. Behind him, a city skyline with rooftops and a few trees sits faintly in the distance. The sketch uses soft gray tones, almost like a quick study in motion. The artist focused more on shapes and light than fine details—notice how the wheelbarrow’s shadow blends into the ground. Next, check out Romanticism to see how this style played with everyday life and emotion.
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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