Studie eines Spinnrockens 

Johann Peter Krafft sketched this spinning wheel with pencil, likely on paper, sometime in the 19th century. While it's just a drawing, it captures the essence of this once-essential technology. Note the intricate wooden construction, from the turned legs to the carefully balanced wheel. Before industrialization, spinning wheels like this were commonplace in homes, used to transform raw fibers into yarn for weaving. The act of spinning was labor-intensive, typically done by women, and it was a fundamental aspect of textile production. Krafft’s attention to detail elevates this simple machine. In doing so, he reminds us of the value and labor embedded in handmade textiles, something often overlooked in our mass-produced world. It invites reflection on the social context of its production, and the intimate connection between people, materials, and making.