Oude vrouw zittend in leunstoel 1861 - 1935

This drawing of an old woman in an armchair was made by Joan Berg. The composition, dominated by delicate, yet assertive lines, brings to life a moment of quiet contemplation. Berg's strategic use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, giving volume to the figure and texture to the fabrics. The linear precision captures the woman's pose in the armchair, conveying the weight of the years. The details, like the spectacles held loosely in her hand, suggest a pause in her daily life, an interlude for reflection. Berg plays with the semiotics of domesticity, using the chair and clothing as signs of a lived experience. Notice how the sharp, angular lines in the lower part of the drawing contrast with the more curved, softer lines delineating the woman's form. This contrast underscores the artwork's engagement with broader themes of aging and the passage of time. Berg invites us not merely to observe, but to interpret the layers of meaning embedded in form and structure.