Vaskegryte 1860

'Vaskegryte', made by Amaldus Nielsen, likely in the late 19th century, is an oil painting on canvas. The rough facture of the painting, with visible brushstrokes, gives the impression of a quickly captured scene. Yet, the painting isn't just about the landscape. The focus is the cauldron, the 'vaskegryte', a vessel for laundry. The materials of the cauldron – the cast iron, and the wood fueling the fire – speaks to the domestic labor of women. Nielsen isn't just painting a pretty scene, but rather capturing the everyday lives of working people, and their intimate relationship with elemental materials. By centering the materiality of the painting, we see how it elevates everyday craft into the realm of fine art. This challenges traditional distinctions, and invites us to consider the artistry inherent in the tools and practices of daily life.