Study for In Puerperium: Charlotte with Wilhelmine

Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein, 1909

MEDIUMGraphite on ivory wove paper
DIMENSIONS34.5 × 49.1 cm (13 5/8 × 19 3/8 in.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONPrints and Drawings
CULTUREGermany
CREDIT LINEGift of Harold Joachim

Stop to appreciate this tender graphite drawing, a rare glimpse into the intimate, quiet moments of early motherhood, rendered with a sensitive hand and profound emotional depth.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

In this intimate graphite drawing, a mother, Charlotte, gently cradles her infant daughter, Wilhelmine, in what appears to be the immediate aftermath of childbirth. The title, "In Puerperium," refers to the six-week period following birth, a time of recovery and bonding. The scene is rendered with a tender realism, focusing on the quiet connection between mother and child. We see Charlotte's weary but loving gaze directed downward, her body still heavy from the recent ordeal, while Wilhelmine is a tiny, bundled presence, seemingly asleep against her mother's chest. The soft, almost ethereal quality of the graphite captures the hushed atmosphere, drawing attention to the delicate forms and emotional weight of the moment. This study was created by Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein in 1909, and the subject, Wilhelmine Corinth-Klopfer, later became the artist's daughter through adoption.

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What to Notice

1

The delicate lines and shading that define the mother's face and hair.

2

The way the infant is swaddled, almost disappearing into the folds of fabric.

3

The mother's hand, gently supporting the child's head.

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Audio Deep Dive

Stop to appreciate this tender graphite drawing, a rare glimpse into the intimate, quiet moments of early motherhood, rendered with a sensitive hand and profou…

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THE ARTIST
Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein 1859–1937 · Switzerland

Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein, a German-Swiss painter, defied social norms to become a celebrated portraitist, exhibiting at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

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