Portret van een onbekende Egyptische vrouw met waterkruik op haar hoofd 1863 - 1869

Wilhelm Hammerschmidt made this portrait of an unknown Egyptian woman with watercolour on paper, sometime in the mid-19th century. Look closely, and you’ll see Hammerschmidt used the translucency of watercolour to great effect, layering washes to build up the rich, deep colours of the woman’s clothing, contrasting beautifully with the off-white of the paper underneath. The even tone of the background puts the focus firmly on the figure, drawing our eyes to the way she balances the clay water jug on her head, seemingly without effort. That jug is the most striking element of the composition. Think about the labour involved in producing this vessel. Someone would have had to dig the clay, prepare it, form the jug, and fire it in a kiln. The woman would then carry it, perhaps great distances. In this way, the painting raises questions about labour, materials, and the everyday lives of ordinary people, prompting us to consider the social context in which art is made and consumed. It encourages us to appreciate the value of craft traditions and the skill involved in producing even the most humble objects.