Sitting Old Peasant Woman
1903
Paula Modersohn-Becker was a pioneer of early Expressionism, and you can see why in this striking portrait of an elderly peasant woman. Painted in 1903 during her time in the artists' colony of Worpswede, she strips away unnecessary details to focus on the raw, quiet dignity of her subject. The woman sits in profile with hands clasped, her face rendered in simple, almost mask-like shapes against a moody, textured background. Modersohn-Becker had a deep empathy for the rural working class, and this piece captures a sense of timeless endurance rather than just a physical likeness.
- Technique
- Oil painting