Study for the painting ‘Stopfende Alte am Fenster’ 1880

Max Liebermann created this sketch, "Study for the painting ‘Stopfende Alte am Fenster’", as preparation for a painting that captures a somber moment. Liebermann, working in a period of significant social change, often depicted everyday life, focusing here on the elderly. This sketch offers us a glimpse into the lives of those often marginalized by society. The woman, hunched over her work, embodies a life of labor. The title, which translates to "Old Woman Darning by the Window," highlights the quiet dignity of her domestic tasks, yet it also evokes questions about aging, poverty, and the role of women. Liebermann, though from a wealthy background, seemed drawn to representing the working class with empathy. The choice to focus on this woman, not as a symbol of despair but as an individual engaged in her daily life, feels quietly revolutionary. What does it mean to really 'see' someone, to acknowledge their existence and value? This sketch invites us to reflect on these questions, bridging the gap between the represented and the observer.