Monday, February 21, 2005

Knitting Depicted in Art

In need of a thank you card this morning, I came across this while searching through my collection. I almost flipped right by it, not really attracted by the colors or the medievel style. But something caught my eye. Are those sheep? Is she spinning yarn? Why, yes she is! Now I am intrigued, what is the story of this painting?

Sainte Marguerite et Olibrius, by Jean Fouquet, vers 1420-1481 Posted by Hello

A google search of the above title resulted in many pages, all in French. Ah well, it will remain a mystery for now.

But this started me thinking, what other paintings, sculpture, art, etc. exist on the subject of knitting? I immediately thought of Mary Cassatt. Her works focused on mothers and children. But what about knitting and needlework? And what about Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer? His works were also celebrations of the domestic tasks of everyday women.

So I offer this list of works, as a start. If anyone out there would like to add any others, please leave a comment.

Works by Mary Cassatt
Femme Cousant (Young Woman Sewing in the Garden), 1880-82
Lydia Crocheting in the Garden at Marly, 1880
Old Woman Knitting, ca.1881
Young Mother Sewing, 1900

Other works
The Lacemaker, ca. 1669, by Johannes Vermeer
Woman Knitting, 1904, by Albert Henry Krehbiel
Young Woman Knitting, ca. 1883, by Berthe Morisot
Scheveningen Woman Knitting, 1881, by Vincent VanGogh
Woman Knitting, 1856, by Jean-Francois Millet

1 comment:

Lisa said...

Thanks for the tip. I've changed my settings, so now anyone can comment.