Artwork
A Woman Carrying a Bundle of Sticks
A Woman Carrying a Bundle of Sticks is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Heinrich Zille. It dates from 1902 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Woman Carrying a Bundle of Sticks is a print created by Heinrich Zille around 1902, utilizing etching and soft-ground etching techniques on cream-colored wove paper in a muted brown hue.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a weary woman, identifiable by her stooped posture, loose attire, and low-pulled hat, as she labors under the weight of a bundle of sticks on her back. The composition conveys a sense of hardship and exhaustion.
Technique & Style
Zille employed a scratchy, rough etching style to emphasize the subject's struggle, achieving textured, dark, and uneven lines. The soft-ground etching contributed to the blurred, subdued background, featuring faint trees and a horizon line.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1902, specific details regarding the print's provenance and exhibition history are not provided in the available information.
Context
The work reflects late 19th to early 20th-century artistic explorations of everyday life and labor, potentially aligning with broader themes of social observation prevalent during this period.
Legacy
The print's impact or influence on subsequent artistic movements or Zille's overall body of work is not specified in the given context, highlighting a need for further research into its reception and significance.
Artist & collection
Chickweed Merchant (Marchand de mouron)
The Parable of the Sower (Le Semeur de Paraboles)
Beggar with a Stick, Walking to the Left
The Red Pimpernel Vender
Old and Modern Artists: Thomas Vireloque
Fagot-makers (Les faiseurs de fagots)
Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)
Peasant with a Crooked Back Leaning on a Stick
The Flight into Egypt: Crossing a Brook
The Rag Picker
Street Sweeper
Winter (1st Plate)