Artwork
A Sleeping Saleswoman
A Sleeping Saleswoman 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
A Sleeping Saleswoman, attributed to the anonymous creator known as 913_person, dates to around 1650 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The image presents a solitary woman seated at a table, absorbed in the act of sewing, set against a dimly lit interior that suggests a quiet domestic space.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a woman in a dark dress and white headscarf, her hands steady as she manipulates needle and thread over a blue cloth. A small, round sewing basket rests on the table. Her calm expression and the subdued setting convey a moment of ordinary labor, inviting contemplation of everyday female work in the 17th‑century household.
Technique & Style
The composition relies on chiaroscuro, employing stark contrasts between illuminated foreground elements and a shadowy background to model form and suggest depth. The limited palette of dark tones punctuated by the blue drape and the soft light on the figure highlights the tactile qualities of fabric and the precise gesture of sewing.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1650, the image has been preserved within the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public. Its attribution to the otherwise unidentified 913_person reflects ongoing cataloguing efforts to document works of anonymous origin from the period.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
