Woman sewing 

Henri Martin made this oil painting, called 'Woman Sewing', at an unknown date. It's a scene of domestic labor, but it's also a demonstration of the artist's skill and an expression of the values held by the art institutions of his time. Martin was a French painter who came to prominence at a time when the Paris Salon still held considerable sway. We can see how Martin has taken on board the innovations of Impressionism, particularly in his broken brushstrokes and depiction of natural light, but also his careful attention to composition and form. The artist presents a contemporary scene, but one that is safely within the bounds of bourgeois taste, emphasizing the virtues of home and family. To understand this painting better, we might look at exhibition reviews from the period, as well as the artist's biography and letters. In this way we learn more about the social conditions that shaped this piece.