Portrait of a Lady Spinning

The portrait combines sobriety with an interest in detail, setting the scene with only the most necessary elements, all of which relate to the main subject of the painting. Hanging on a bare wall is a shield which identifies the sitter, while the bobbin on the left and the sewing basket on the right refer to the woman’s task. The spinning wheel is prominent in the foreground. Behind the distaff, the woman’s arms are emphasized by her ample white sleeves which light up the middleground.