Spinnewiel en een onderarm 1854 - 1914

This is Albert Neuhuys's drawing, Spinnewiel en een onderarm, housed at the Rijksmuseum. Notice how Neuhuys uses delicate pencil strokes to capture a spinning wheel and a forearm on paper. The composition is divided, yet connected, through the delicate lines of the spinning wheel and the solid shading of the forearm. There is a semiotic relationship between the human element and the tool; an interrelation that signifies labour, craft, and human ingenuity. Neuhuys's technique destabilizes established meanings by not giving us a complete image, but rather fragments that, when pieced together, reveal a narrative about work and artistry. The subtle gradations of tone create a textural contrast, inviting us to consider the tactile qualities of both the human form and the crafted object. In emphasizing line and form, Neuhuys invites us to contemplate how simple marks on paper can evoke complex ideas about production and humanity. This drawing acts as a philosophical discourse on labor and creativity.