Portrait of a shepherd's wife c. 1898

Ferdinand Balzer’s "Portrait of a shepherd's wife," a drawing created around 1898, depicts a woman in a woolen hat and coat, holding a staff, with a serious and contemplative expression. The loose, gestural lines and hatching techniques, characteristic of Balzer's style, give a sense of immediacy and informality to this drawing. The work, now housed in the Städel Museum, offers a glimpse into rural life at the turn of the 20th century.