En almuekone gående i profil til højre, med et stort sæt på hovedet 1743 - 1809

Nicolai Abildgaard made this drawing of a peasant woman with pencil and wash on paper. Pencil, on its own, is a humble material. But here, Abildgaard uses it to register the dignity of labor. Look at the stark lines defining her dress and head covering, balanced with subtle grey washes giving volume and depth. Her hands are clasped, suggesting both rest and readiness, the wood shoes grounding her to the earth. The washes make the whole figure cohere, lending a kind of classical monumentality to the figure. Abildgaard, deeply engaged with the art of antiquity, often sought to ennoble his subjects. But here, he does so with a minimum of means. Abildgaard’s emphasis is on the woman’s presence, her simple clothing reflecting a life of work. It’s a reminder that artistic vision, not just expensive materials, makes a work of art.