Poetsende vrouw 1782 - 1837

"Poetsende vrouw" (Cleaning Woman) is a drawing by Dutch artist Pieter Bartholomeusz. Barbiers, created sometime between 1782 and 1837. This artwork, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, depicts a woman kneeling and cleaning a barrel while surrounded by various household items, including buckets and a pot. The artist's detailed use of graphite highlights the everyday life of a working-class woman, capturing the realism and simplicity of the scene. The drawing's small scale and intimate subject matter, measuring only 100 mm by 104 mm, emphasizes the everydayness of the depicted activity. Barbiers, known for his skill in portraying daily life, captures the ordinary with masterful detail.