Artwork
The Weaver at Work in his Home

The Weaver at Work in his Home is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *The Weaver at Work in his Home* dates to around 1650 and is attributed to the artist recorded as 30344_person. Executed as a black‑and‑white image, it is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition presents a modest interior where daily labor and family life intersect.
Subject & Meaning
Within the cramped, dimly lit room, a figure seated in a chair cradles an infant, gazing downward, while a second figure leans over a wooden loom, engaged in the act of weaving. The juxtaposition of childcare and textile production highlights the integration of domestic responsibilities and craft work in a typical household of the period.
Technique & Style
The image relies on a stark chiaroscuro effect, employing strong contrasts between light and shadow to model forms and suggest depth. Soft illumination filters through a small window, casting gentle gradients that define the furniture—a bed, a table with a bowl—and the figures, while the darker areas emphasize the loom’s structure and the workers’ concentration.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1650, the piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. Its attribution to 30344_person reflects cataloguing conventions used by the institution, preserving the work’s provenance within the museum’s ethnographic collection.
Context
The scene reflects 17th‑century domestic economies in which textile production was often a household activity, especially in regions where weaving supplemented family income. By portraying both the loom and the infant, the image conveys the interdependence of labor and care that characterized everyday life in that era.
Artist & collection















