Vaskepige 1901

Holger Valdemar Rasmussen Magaard made this etching, "Vaskepige," with a plate measuring about 25 by 24 centimeters. The woman in the picture is bent over her work. The light coming through the window behind her creates a smoky atmosphere. I can almost feel the warmth coming off that tub of water! It makes me think about the weight of the unseen, the labor implied in the steam. I’m curious about what Magaard was thinking when he made this. Maybe he was interested in the quiet dignity of everyday life. Or perhaps he wanted to show us the invisible effort that goes into keeping a home. Whatever his reasons, he’s tapped into something timeless here. I am reminded of Paula Modersohn-Becker and her pictures of the women in Worpswede, Germany. It's like artists are always in conversation, riffing off each other, finding new ways to look at the world. And that, for me, is the real magic of painting.