About the Work
Jakob Becker drew in this undated sketchbook, mainly with pencil, some landscape and many tree studies, some views of buildings and interiors as well as numerous posture, movement and costume studies of peasant figures, mainly children. He often depicted the figures ‒ mostly individual studies, less often studies of interacting groups ‒ in everyday situations, for example while working, chatting or playing. Becker used brown ink for parts or the whole of three drawings, two he coloured with a brush in watercolours. The studies, some of them quick, some extensive, are probably mostly done after nature. Large stains of oil and isolated brown-green, red or black fingerprints and traces of pasty paint also indicate that Becker repeatedly used his sketchbooks (see also Inv. 15008 to 15010 and 15012 in the Städel Museum) in his workshop, possibly as inspiration for later paintings.
For a full sketchbook description, please see “Research”.
