Studie van een vrouw, met een mand onder haar arm 1797 - 1838

This study of a woman with a basket, by Johannes Christiaan Schotel, was made with pen in grey ink on paper. What’s fascinating here is the contrast of the fine art medium with the subject: a working woman. You can see the rapid application of the ink, especially in the way the fabric folds are described. The artist is interested less in a portrait, and more in capturing a sense of a particular type of labor. The basket itself would have been skillfully made by a specialized craftsperson. Baskets were essential objects; humble, but vital to the economy. The woman’s work of carrying is only the last stage in a long chain of production, from growing raw materials to weaving. Next time you see a drawing like this, consider the way that artists frame the everyday world, giving dignity to the labor on which society depends.