Sitzende Frau mit Holzbütte 

Johann Ludwig Aberli created this drawing of a seated woman with a wooden tub. It’s a quiet, intimate depiction of a woman, likely from a rural community. Aberli lived in an era of significant social stratification, where class and gender roles were rigidly defined. This woman is rendered with a sense of dignity and presence, but the context of her daily life is also visible. Her clothing speaks to her working-class status, yet her gaze meets ours directly, challenging any sense of condescension. While Aberli was part of the privileged class, he made a career out of the aestheticization of rural life, portraying the customs, garb, and trades, of Swiss citizens. The image raises questions about how women's labor and identity were perceived and represented in 18th century art. It invites us to consider the untold stories of women whose contributions often went unnoticed, and it serves as a reminder of the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation.