The artwork titled “Woman Sewing,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1881 in the Netherlands, exemplifies the Realism movement. Utilizing charcoal and watercolor on paper, this genre painting measures 62.5 by 47.5 centimeters and is currently housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork portrays an elderly woman deeply engrossed in her sewing, depicted with meticulous attention to detail. Seated on a wooden chair, she is dressed in plain, modest clothing with a headscarf, suggesting a sense of humility and dedication to her task. The subdued tonality and soft transitions of light and shadow emphasize the introspective mood of the scene. Through precise use of charcoal and watercolors, van Gogh skillfully captures the textures of the fabric she is sewing and the weathered features of her face and hands. The setting appears to be an interior space with a window that reveals a glimpse of the outside world, creating a quiet and contemplative atmosphere that invites viewers into the private moment of the woman’s daily life.
