Striding Man
1881
Gustav Wentzel captured the raw energy of everyday life in this dynamic 1881 sketch, showing a man striding forward with intense purpose. The artist uses quick, scratchy strokes to build up the heavy shadows on the man's vest and trousers, giving him a real sense of weight and momentum. Notice the little study of a shoe floating off to the right—Wentzel was clearly working out the details of his subject's footwear before committing to the final pose. It's a perfect snapshot of Norwegian Realism, proving that even a simple walk can be full of drama.