Interior with Woman Sewing, Wybrand Hendriks, c. 1800 - c. 1810
oil on panel, h 34.4cm × w 29.3cm More details
‘The devil finds work for idle hands’ is the essence of the Dutch ethic of piety and hard work. As epitomised in this scene: a sober interior with a woman sewing a hem and at the same time reading a book. A thick volume of the Dutch authorised translation of the Bible lies on a folded tablecloth, ready to be opened. Meanwhile, a dog with a ball of wool is about to break her silent concentration.
