Spinning women

This beautiful illustration of good size has many salient features of Flemish art, from the 16th century and beyond. Its protagonists are common-folk people, busy carrying out the variously different jobs in life; in this case we see spinners who, with different attitudes, still remain intent on their work. There is undoubtedly a realistic and at the same time grotesque approach to drawing figures in the area of Flanders. In fact, one of the two women seems to take pleasure in our gaze, while the other maintains a severe frown. Their gaunt faces are certainly not beautiful, yet they show a rough charm. Finally, as regards the graphic work, great is the precision of the stroke, which is accomplished in fine lines which better define the scene. In addition, a stand of fruit appears quite incongruously between the two characters and divides them, reminding us that the northern part of Belgium is one of the birthplaces of still life. The general scope of the work can be traced back to the school of Brueghel the Elder, even if the composition as a whole can probably be attributed to the second part of the sixteenth century.