Johann Gottfried Schadow

Johann Gottfried Schadow was not merely one of the foremost representatives of classicist sculpture in Berlin, but also an extremely talented and prolific draughtsman. The drawings he made in the 1790s show him to be an accurate and astute chronicler of his time. The depictions of his close family circle, in particular, make it clear that he was a sensitive and often humorous observer.

The present charming portrayal of a young woman sat snuggled in the rounded corner of a sofa as she knits is reminiscent of the figure of Schadow’s youngest sister Charlotte in the Kaffee-Visite (Coffee Visit), a drawing he made in 1794 (Badstübner/Czok/von Simson no. 350). The scene is remarkable for the affectionate nature of the observation and the simple sense of reality that it radiates. The way the young woman devotedly lowers her head emphasises her quiet concentration on her knitting. Schadow demonstrates great mastery in capturing the position of her hands as she moves the needles with speed and dexterity. The fingerless gloves and the long housecoat she is wearing indicate that it is cool in the bare living room. Using the simplest of means Schadow succeeds in capturing a timeless moment of domestic intimacy and security. From the collection of Carl Heumann, Chemnitz (Lugt 2841a).

EUR 15,000