Kunstnerens moder bælger ærter 1832

Christen Købke made this delicate drawing of his mother shelling peas with a pencil on paper. This intimate scene offers a glimpse into the domestic life of a woman in 19th-century Denmark, whose daily activities were often confined to the home. The choice to depict his mother engaged in such a mundane task challenges the traditional, often idealized representations of women in art. Instead, Købke finds beauty and dignity in the everyday reality of his mother’s labor. There's a tenderness in the way Købke captures her posture and facial expression. She is not merely a subject, but a person with her own stories and experiences. The humble act of shelling peas becomes a quiet moment of connection between mother and son, offering a meditation on the value of the labor of women, and domesticity in an ever-changing world.