Knitting women – sketch 1918

Editor: Here we have Tadeusz Makowski’s oil sketch, “Knitting Women,” from 1918. What strikes me is how the women, though individual, seem almost like a unified entity, a group defined by a shared activity. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful depiction of community and resilience, deeply rooted in visual symbols of womanhood and labor. Knitting, throughout history, is almost always depicted with images of care, domesticity, and creation. But, look closer at these faceless women during wartime. Do you notice a possible sense of tension or uncertainty in their collective pose? Editor: I do, now that you mention it. Their heads are bowed and I now perceive a kind of somberness there, beyond the quiet diligence. What might that suggest? Curator: Perhaps it reveals the emotional weight these women carried – anxiety for loved ones at war, the responsibility of maintaining home and community amidst chaos. The act of knitting, traditionally a symbol of warmth and comfort, transforms into an act of quiet resistance and perseverance. They are holding things together, not just fabric but perhaps society itself. It makes one think about the symbolism of everyday labor, especially of women, in times of social crisis. Editor: So, the cultural memory associated with knitting takes on a new dimension in the context of World War I. That's fascinating. Thank you for expanding how I look at this artwork. Curator: And thank you, for considering how familiar symbols of creation can morph into powerful symbols of endurance in dire circumstances.