Female Figure Sewing (from Sketchbook) 1796 - 1886

This drawing of a woman sewing was made by Asher Brown Durand, sometime in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. Durand was part of the Hudson River School, a group of landscape painters, so this intimate domestic scene is a bit of a departure for him. The sketch is made with spare, economic lines, quickly capturing the figure's posture and the fall of the fabric. Notice how the soft graphite allows for subtle gradations of tone, creating a sense of volume and depth. Sewing, like drawing, is an act of production. Here, the two are intimately linked. Sewing was, of course, a common activity for women of the time, essential for mending and making clothes. By depicting this everyday task, Durand elevates the work of women, suggesting its inherent value. This simple drawing prompts us to consider the relationship between labor, skill, and artistic representation, challenging our notions of what constitutes a worthy subject for art.