Artwork
A Basket-maker's wife
A Basket-maker's wife is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Basket-maker's wife is an 1860 painting from Trichinopoly, South India, depicting a woman balancing domestic and occupational duties. The work is one of fifteen in a series illustrating various occupations.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a woman with an infant, simultaneously holds a smaller basket and balances a larger one and a mat on her head, highlighting the multitasking aspect of a craftswoman's life. Her attire, a light sari with a red border, adds a touch of personal detail.
Technique & Style
The painting exhibits a blend of traditional Indian themes with European realism, characterized by soft colors, gentle lines, and a simplified background, reflecting the influence of Company painting styles.
History & Provenance
Created in 1860 for the British East India Company, this work is part of a set of fifteen occupation-themed paintings, now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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
