Study for In Puerperium: Charlotte with Wilhelmine

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.