Study of Woman Peeling Potatoes

Walter Shirlaw's careful study captures a woman absorbed in domestic work, rendered in charcoal and ink with confident, economical line. The seated figure dominates the composition through skillful tonal contrast—deep shadow behind her form creates sculptural volume. Shirlaw, a Scottish-born painter who became a founding faculty member at the Art Institute of Chicago, worked from live models to develop both finished paintings and these preparatory sketches. The drawing demonstrates the academic tradition of studying human anatomy and gesture through everyday poses, elevating ordinary labor as worthy subject for serious artistic investigation.