Artwork
A Month's Darning
A Month's Darning is a watercolor work on paper by the American Impressionist artist Enoch Wood Perry. It dates from 1876 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These objects signal the domestic sphere and the meticulous labor associated with maintaining a home in the late nineteenth‑century United States.
The painting shows a woman seated near a window, engaged in the act of darning a sock, surrounded by household items such as a basket, a ball of yarn, and a potted plant. These objects signal the domestic sphere and the meticulous labor associated with maintaining a home in the late nineteenth‑century United States. The presence of a neckerchief and a flower adds a touch of personal adornment, while the act of sewing underscores themes of care, patience, and the invisible work performed by women.
By juxtaposing everyday domestic tools with a quiet, contemplative figure, the work suggests both the dignity and the confinement of gendered responsibilities of the era.
Technique & Style
The work titled A Month’s Darning, painted by Enoch Wood Perry in 1876, is executed in watercolor, gouache and gum arabic on off‑white wove paper (50.8 × 40 cm). The medium allows delicate layering of translucent pigments that define the fabric of a woman’s neckerchief, the texture of a basket, and the sheen of yarn, while the support’s slight tooth enhances fine detail. Formal analysis notes a balanced composition in which domestic objects, flowers, a window, a plant, are arranged around the central figure, emphasizing realism through precise brushwork and subtle tonal gradations typical of American portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
A Month's Darning was created by Enoch Wood Perry in 1876, as established by the work's inception date recorded in its documentation [,]. The medium consists of watercolor, gouache, and gum arabic on off-white wove paper []. There is no evidence in the provided sources of a specific commission or early private ownership; the work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art directly, where it remains housed [].
Its creation history is tied to the artist's broader output of genre portraits during the late 19th century, though no additional details about its execution or early provenance are documented in these sources.
Enoch Wood Perry's 1876 watercolor A Month's Darning is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically within the American Wing. The work depicts a woman engaged in sewing with various domestic items such as a basket, yarn, and a houseplant. While the provided sources confirm the museum's possession and the artwork's creation date, they do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.
Furthermore, the available documentation does not record any past or scheduled exhibition history for this specific watercolor, leaving its public display record unmentioned in the current references.
Overview
Enoch Wood Perry, an American painter recognized for his portraits and landscapes, created A Month's Darning in 1876. This artwork, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and gum arabic on paper, exemplifies the American Impressionist style. It captures a quiet domestic scene, featuring a woman engaged in mending, surrounded by everyday objects. The piece is held within The American Wing collection.
Context
Enoch Wood Perry, known for depicting both individuals and natural vistas, was an American artist who resided in various cities across the United States. A Month's Darning was completed in 1876 and is now part of The American Wing, reflecting a period of evolving artistic styles in American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Enoch Wood Perry Jr. (July 31, 1831 – December 14, 1915), was an American painter, from Boston. He was known for his portraits and landscape paints; and he lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New Orleans, Louisiana;…
