Hermit mending his nets 

Carl Spitzweg painted "Hermit Mending His Nets" with oil on canvas in the 19th century. Spitzweg's choice of oil paint allows for rich detail and texture, enhancing the depiction of the hermit's activity. The act of mending nets, a traditional craft rooted in the fishing trade, emphasizes the values of labor and self-sufficiency. The hermit's repetitive handwork, using skills passed down through generations, contrasts with the industrialization emerging during the period. The detailed rendering of the hermit's task reflects the importance of craft in daily life. Spitzweg, however, romanticizes this work, setting it in an idyllic, natural scene rather than an urban setting. The painting, therefore, navigates the tension between idealizing traditional skills and overlooking the realities of labor and class in a rapidly changing society. This highlights the artist's skill in capturing the social and cultural complexities of his time.