The artwork, titled “In Grandmother’s Time,” is a genre painting crafted by Thomas Eakins in 1876. Executed in oil on canvas with dimensions measuring 30.48 by 40.64 centimeters, it is a notable example of the Realism movement. This piece is currently housed in the Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA.
In the artwork, the artist captures a serene scene depicting a woman, seemingly of elder age, engaged in spinning wool. She is diligently operating a spinning wheel, meticulously depicted in period-authentic attire, which conjures a sense of nostalgia and quiet industriousness. The subdued lighting and dark background contrast with the lighter tones of the woman’s clothing, drawing attention to her focused demeanor and the spinning wheel. The intimate scale and genre scene evoke a sense of timelessness, reflecting the domestic tranquility and labor of a bygone era. Eakins’ meticulous attention to detail and texture accentuate the realism and authenticity of this moment, encapsulating the essence of everyday life in grandmother’s time.
