Naaiende vrouw bij een raam 1854 - 1914

Albert Neuhuys made this pencil drawing, titled "Naaiende vrouw bij een raam," which translates to "Sewing woman by a window." Neuhuys was part of the Hague School, a group of Dutch realist painters who focused on scenes of everyday life, often emphasizing the lives of the working class. The woman in this sketch is anonymous, yet her posture and placement by the window tell a story of domesticity and labor. Her identity is not explicitly defined, but the act of sewing, traditionally associated with women, speaks to the gendered roles of the time. There is a certain quietness, and a palpable sense of the everyday rhythms of life. This artwork can be viewed as a reflection of societal values regarding women's work and their place in the home, inviting us to consider the often-unseen labor that sustains communities. In its simplicity, the drawing captures the emotional landscape of a life centered on care and quiet diligence.