Woman playing the mandolin c. 1881

Otto Scholderer created this pencil drawing, titled *Woman playing the mandolin*, sometime in the late 19th century. Scholderer was a German painter associated with the Realist movement, and while details about this specific work are scarce, we can think about it in the context of its time. During the late 1800s, there was a growing emphasis on portraying everyday life, a direct challenge to the more idealized or historical subjects favored by academic art. This drawing, with its intimate portrayal of a woman playing music, fits within that shift. The woman is casually dressed in a loose-fitting gown, seated informally. The mandolin itself, as a folk instrument, speaks to a certain kind of cultural identity. What I find particularly interesting is how Scholderer captures a moment of quiet, personal expression. Is she playing for herself, or for someone else? This work is a window into a world of domesticity and private moments, which both reflected and shaped societal values of the time.