Seamstresses in Fine Art

7 responses to “Seamstresses in Fine Art”

1. Sy lyk so ingedagte terwyl sy werk… 🙂 Dis baie mooi!

2. Love this portrait! I read the link to his bio..Two other paintings were included there. In all 3 of these, I was struck by how he uses the lighting. Just as a photographer would have to consider. (moi aussi) The girl sewing located herself within the range of great light for her work. I think I see a bunny(!!) forming in her stitches…but why is she holding a cloth in her hand underneath? In one other painting..the mom nursing her infant in a public station, I am very curious about the “blanket” around the baby.
   Maybe Jacobean weaving?/ Anyone know? The lighting in that painting is fascinating. Most public buildings with high ceilings had sky;lights as electricity was not used in public until about 1882 or 3. Not sure when the mom-baby were painted.
   Ulrich would have been about age 35 when lighting was put in. He did super job with the light all over this painting… would love to hang this in my home..I think women were almost heroic for even attempting large hand sewn pieces of any type. Those pieces are treasures now.

   1. I think I misread a cloth in her underneath hand.. Now it looks like her previous stitches in shadow… Be glad when I get my final post cataract new glasses !! LOL

3. I always wondered how I should look when using the embroidery frame. Now I know.

   1. LOL!

4. The stitcher appears to be holding her hand as one would for cross stitch although her image doesn’t appear to be cross stitch. I have a similar hoop I use for quilting and I’ve never thought of using it for embroidery. One usually uses a smaller hoop that fits in the left hand and uses the needle with the right (if you are right handed). To use one larger is uncomfortable.

5. I love the warmth and brown of this one. It looks like she is making a serious needlepoint cover for furniture — a bench or small sofa? Both frame and cloth are so heavy. The pink yarn draped over the side of the pin cushion looks like wool needlepoint yarn. The painting of the type setter shop is grimy and amazing and the baby nursing is so delicate and pretty. Men and women had very square toed boots in 1884. Love them all–thank you Lori and everyone in the discussion.