Screaming woman 1860

Hugo Kauffmann sketched "Screaming Woman" with watercolor and graphite, capturing a moment in the life of a woman, likely from a rural community, sometime in the late 19th century. Kauffmann, who focused on genre paintings, often depicted scenes of everyday life. The woman’s traditional clothing—a long skirt, vest, and headscarf—speaks to her cultural identity and perhaps her social standing. There is a directness to her gaze, the way she holds her stance, with one hand on her hip, it suggests a narrative beyond the aesthetic. Is she really screaming? Or is she talking loudly? During this period, women's roles were often confined, and their voices suppressed. This woman, however, appears to challenge those constraints. Through Kauffmann's eyes, we are invited to reflect on the untold stories and experiences of women in the past and perhaps question our own assumptions about gender, class, and expression.