The Shoemaker

This intimate drawing offers a rare glimpse into the everyday life of a craftsman in seventeenth-century Flanders. Executed in brown ink and washes, the sheet depicts a seated shoemaker absorbed in his work, dressed in rustic attire and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. He holds a long tool or piece of leather, while a child crouches beside him, watching attentively. The background is loosely sketched, suggesting a domestic or workshop setting without distracting from the central figures.

The composition is modest in scale yet rich in character. The artist captures the quiet concentration of the shoemaker and the curiosity of the child with remarkable sensitivity. The fluid handling of ink and the subtle modulation of wash create a warm, textured surface, enhancing the sense of immediacy and presence.

The sheet stands as a fine example of seventeenth-century Flemish draftsmanship: technically assured, narratively restrained, and quietly evocative. It reflects the period’s growing interest in everyday subjects and the human figure, rendered with empathy and precision.

Brown ink and Washes, 134 x 101mm