Petrus van der Velden was likely aware of Jean-François Millet’s atmospheric winnower paintings, dating from 1848, but he also bought his own sense of observation to a disappearing craft and way of life. These Wannenlappers are repairers of winnowing baskets; they may have been itinerants skilled at making and repair, or household members using a sunny moment to carry out some necessary maintenance. Wannenlappers was first exhibited in 1888, at the Exhibition of the Living Masters in van der Velden’s birthplace of Rotterdam. It was next shown in 1890 at a solo exhibition of his work in the same city, several months after he had left the Netherlands for New Zealand.

(Leaving for work, 2 October 2021 - 1 May 2022)