Artwork

Farmer's Wife Delousing her Husband

Farmer's Wife Delousing her Husband, by Unknown, 1692
Farmer's Wife Delousing her Husband, by Unknown, 1692

Farmer's Wife Delousing her Husband is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1692 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1692 by 1700_person, Farmer's Wife Delousing her Husband is a black-and-white artwork housed at the Museum of Ethnography. The scene depicts a domestic moment of a wife checking her husband's hair for lice in a humble, dimly lit interior.

Subject & Meaning

The artwork captures an intimate yet tense domestic moment, focusing on a routine yet deeply personal task. The composition conveys a sense of everyday life's solemnity and the woman's diligent care amidst a simple, possibly challenging, family environment.

Technique & Style

The work employs stark chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between light and dark to create dramatic depth. This lighting technique highlights the central figures against a dark, rough-walled backdrop, emphasizing the immediacy of the scene.

History & Provenance

Dating to circa 1692, the artwork's creator is attributed to 1700_person. It is currently part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography, though specific details about its acquisition or earlier ownership are not provided here.

Context

Set in a small, sparsely furnished room with a window admitting only a sliver of light, the scene reflects the humble living conditions of its subjects. The presence of two children, one distracted and the other engaged with a small object, adds to the portrayal of family life.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known