Breiende vrouw zittend aan tafel 1885 - 1931

This etching, Breiende vrouw zittend aan tafel, was made by Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit, but we don’t know exactly when. It’s all about lines, and the way they build up to create a scene, an atmosphere, a feeling. Look closely, and you can see how the marks vary: some are light and sketchy, others are darker and more defined. The whole image feels tentative, in the process of becoming. There's a real tenderness in the way the artist describes the woman's hands and face, the way she seems to be caught in a moment of quiet concentration. And then there's the background, which is almost abstract in its simplicity. The etching reminds me of the work of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who was interested in capturing the everyday lives of women. Both artists seem to be saying that there's beauty and dignity to be found in the ordinary moments of life. And that's something worth celebrating, don't you think?