Vrouw achter naaimachine 1881 - 1925

Herman Heijenbrock made this drawing of a woman at a sewing machine with what looks like charcoal. He seems to have rubbed it in to make these blurry marks in charcoal and then built up the image from there. I can feel him sympathizing with this woman. I wonder what it was like to create this drawing. It's all in muted tones, a symphony of greys. The charcoal is so dry and powdery, yet it builds depth and volume. Look at the way the light catches on her back, the soft folds of her dress. The edges of the figures in the background are soft, giving a real sense of distance and the atmosphere of the factory. For me, this drawing is part of an ongoing dialogue, like artists talking to each other across time. Heijenbrock is having his say, and now it’s our turn to respond, making meaning from what he’s left behind. We can bring our own experiences and thoughts to it; it’s open for interpretation.