Knitting 1881

Thomas Eakins created this plaster relief sculpture, "Knitting," in late 19th-century America, a period of rapid industrialization and shifting social roles. The work depicts a woman seated, absorbed in the domestic craft of knitting, with a cat resting beside her. The oval format and classical drapery evoke a sense of timelessness, yet this image also speaks to contemporary debates about women's work and identity. Was knitting seen as a symbol of feminine virtue and domesticity, or as a form of labor undervalued in the burgeoning industrial economy? To understand Eakins's intentions, we can look at the art institutions of his day. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he taught, grappled with questions of how to represent modern American life. By studying exhibition records, letters, and other archival materials, we can gain insight into the social conditions that shaped Eakins's art. This reveals the complex ways in which artists like Eakins engaged with the changing world around them.