Peasant Woman with Children Goes for Water 

Niko Pirosmani made this painting of a Peasant Woman with Children in Georgia, using oil on oilcloth. The choice of oilcloth as a support is significant. Typically used for practical purposes like tablecloths, here it elevates the everyday material to the realm of fine art. The rough texture of the oilcloth absorbs the oil paint, creating a matte surface that enhances the painting’s raw and honest feel. Pirosmani's direct application of paint, with minimal blending, contributes to the work’s distinctive appearance. The dark background, typical of Pirosmani’s style, makes the figures stand out, emphasizing their solemn expressions and the weight of the water jugs they carry. This emphasis on the material, the making, and the social context, invites us to reconsider the accepted hierarchies of art, and to value the skill and vision found in unexpected places.