Three women squatting 1914

Koloman Moser made this painting, "Three women squatting", using oil paint on canvas. The effect is chalky and matte. The rough texture suggests a deliberate rejection of conventional beauty in favor of something more fundamental. You can almost feel the artist pressing hard with his brush, building up the figures from the background. Moser was deeply influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, which promoted a return to handcraft and honest materials as a reaction against industrialization. The emphasis here is on the labor of painting, each brushstroke evident. The work may also allude to the physical labor of women. Looking at this painting reminds us that art is not just about the final image, but about the process of its making, and the social and cultural context in which it was created.