Sketch for In Grandmother's Time 

This is Thomas Eakins’ study for In Grandmother's Time. The monochromatic sketch immediately suggests a mood of introspection and quiet industry. Eakins has structured the composition around a clear arrangement of forms, focusing on light and shadow to define the shapes of the spinning wheel and the figure. The artist is less interested in the representational aspect, and more on the arrangement of tonal values on the canvas. The use of black and white helps to strip away the distractions of color, allowing us to consider form and structure as primary elements. Eakins applies a semiotic system here, where the wheel becomes more than just a tool; it signifies a connection to past generations and traditional skills, as well as the labor and values they represent. Note how the artist contrasts the sharp edges of the spinning wheel with the softer rendering of the woman's face, subtly highlighting the human element amidst the mechanical. This deliberate tension invites us to consider how the past interfaces with individual human experience.