Oude vrouw met muts en een paar handen after 1908

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this pencil sketch of an old woman with a bonnet and a pair of hands. It’s a study of aging and the body at a time when rapid industrialization was changing the landscape of daily life. The woman's face, rendered in profile, evokes a sense of introspection and resilience. The lines etched by Oldewelt are far from idealizing; they speak to the labor and life that have shaped her. The bonnet, a symbol of modesty, subtly references the woman's identity and societal role. The disembodied hands possibly hint at the physical work she has performed throughout her life. Oldewelt presents a scene of quiet dignity, inviting us to consider the untold stories of women whose lives often went unacknowledged. It reminds us to look beyond the surface and recognize the depth of experience etched into the human form.