Old Woman Mending at the Window 1881

"Old Woman Mending at the Window" is an 1881 pen and ink drawing by German artist Max Liebermann. The drawing depicts an elderly woman hunched over her work, her face obscured by her cap as she mends by a window. This piece, currently located at the Art Institute of Chicago, is characteristic of Liebermann’s early work, which focused on the lives of ordinary people. The loose, gestural lines of the drawing capture a sense of realism and intimacy, making the viewer feel almost voyeuristic in their observation of the woman’s quiet solitude. The image is a testament to Liebermann's ability to find beauty in the everyday, and his talent for capturing the essence of human life in simple, evocative detail.