Vrouw met een spinnewiel in een interieur te Schleithal before 1865

This photograph by Lalleman & Hart captures a woman at her spinning wheel, inside a home in Schleithal. The image, though small, speaks volumes about the materials and processes of textile production in the domestic sphere. The spinning wheel itself embodies a technology, where the twisting of fibers transforms raw material into thread. We can imagine the labor involved, turning the wheel, feeding the flax or wool, and the repetitive motions that would have been a daily part of many women's lives. The image also reminds us of the social context of production. It is through craft that textiles gain their value, and the resulting materials become integral to the flow of commerce and trade. The photograph's focus on a craft process within a domestic setting asks us to consider the convergence of labor, materials, and lived experience. Understanding the importance of materials and making allows us to look beyond the surface and appreciate the intertwined nature of art, craft, and society.