Spinster aan het werk 1872 - 1935

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this small etching of a woman spinning at an indistinct date. What strikes me is the artist's absolute commitment to the process of image-making. The tonal range is limited, verging on monochromatic. Yet, within these self-imposed constraints, Oldewelt coaxes a subtle range of grays and blacks from the etching plate. Look closely at the woman’s hands; notice how the artist uses the etched line to suggest form and movement. The lines are not descriptive, but rather evocative, hinting at the delicate labor and the revolving movements required of this task. The details are softly blurred and almost impressionistic. Oldewelt's etching process reminds me of the work of Käthe Kollwitz. Both artists share a commitment to portraying the daily life and labor of working-class people with empathy and quiet dignity. Ultimately, this piece celebrates not only the depicted subject but also the transformative act of art-making itself.