Spinnerin

The present work belongs to a series of studies Liebermann executed in 1886 for his masterpiece Flachsscheuer in Laren (Berlin, Nationalgalerie; E.1887/1). It relates to the central figure in the composition, who wears a black bonnet with her features visible in three-quarter profile. As was his practice, it would seem that Liebermann signed and dated the work much later than 1886, leading to his adding an erroneous date of 1884.