Artwork
Bildnis eines Mädchens mit Korb
Bildnis eines Mädchens mit Korb is an oil painting by the Realist artist Albert Anker. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Albert Anker’s *Bildnis eines Mädchens mit Korb* (1870) is an oil on canvas executed in a realist manner. The work portrays a young girl holding a wicker basket against a dark, undefined backdrop, creating a quiet, introspective atmosphere. It is presently housed in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a short‑haired girl in a dark dress, her gaze directed downward toward the contents of the basket. Her neutral expression and the subdued setting suggest a moment of ordinary domestic activity, inviting viewers to contemplate the simple, everyday experiences of rural life in the 19th century.
Technique & Style
Anker employs chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated areas on the girl’s face and hands with the surrounding deep shadows, thereby modeling form and imparting a sense of volume. The brushwork is precise, rendering textures such as the wicker basket and fabric with careful detail, characteristic of his realist approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1870, the painting reflects Anker’s early career focus on genre scenes of Swiss countryside life. It entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent collection, representing the artist’s contribution to 19th‑century Swiss realism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albert Anker (1 April 1831 – 16 July 1910) was a Swiss painter and illustrator who has been called the "national painter" of Switzerland because of his enduringly popular depictions of 19th-century Swiss rural life.
