Within the world of Van Gogh’s creative oeuvre, an upcoming masterwork is in the spotlight: “Woman Sewing,” an enthralling watercolour and gouache painting that will be the focus of Christie’s London auction on March 7. Written by Martin Bailey for his weekly blog, “Adventures with Van Gogh,” the piece explores the complexities of this work of art and provides insights into its inspirations, creation, and evolution over time.
Van Gogh created “Woman Sewing” between October and November of 1881, a crucial time in his artistic progression. The work, which is reasonably valued between £2 million and £3 million, captures the spirit of Van Gogh’s early ambitions and represents the early stages of his career.
The painting portrays a middle-aged woman engrossed in sewing, illuminated by the soft glow of a window. Bailey’s meticulous investigation reveals that this might be more than a mere depiction; it could be a borrowed shirt, possibly one of Van Gogh’s own, lent to a local model for the composition.Looking into the artist’s correspondence, Bailey unravels a connection to Thomas Hood’s poem, “The Song of the Shirt,” adding a layer of literary inspiration to the artistic process. Van Gogh’s request for a copy of the poem to his friend Anthon van Rappard suggests a thematic alignment, where the toiling seamstress from Hood’s verses finds resonance in the artist’s visual narrative.
The article sheds light on the potential identity of the model, speculating that Dien de Graaf, a seamstress and hat maker from the village of Etten, might have been the subject. The window view, depicting a middle-class home and a bare tree, adds a poetic touch to the scene, portraying the winter season.
As the artwork prepares for auction, its provenance unveils a captivating journey. From a Rotterdam dealer in 1904 to being part of a lot sold for a mere one guilder, the painting eventually found its way into the hands of Anthony van Hoboken and, subsequently, the Swiss biochemist Arthur Stoll. The current owner, a European collector, acquired it at a Bern auction in 2008.
In the closing paragraphs, Bailey invites art enthusiasts to witness the brilliance of “Woman Sewing” during its brief display in London before the much-anticipated Christie’s sale on March 7th. As a leading Van Gogh specialist, Bailey’s narrative not only unveils the layers of artistic inspiration but also provides a glimpse into the fascinating journey of this masterpiece across the ages.
Feature Image: Van Gogh’s Woman Sewing (October-November 1881)| Courtesy: Christie’s Images Ltd 2024, London
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