A Welsh Woman

The ruffled cap and large black hat worn by this woman are traditionally Welsh. Herkomer was attracted to humble subjects, focussing early in his career on residents of his native Bavaria–his family were craftspeople who emigrated first to America, then to England in 1863. In the late 1870s Herkomer began to explore British themes and likely became interested in Wales through his friendship with the painter and Welsh landowner Charles William Mansel Lewis. The artist's household included, from 1874, Lulu Griffiths, a Welsh nurse who became his wife in 1884. An impression of this print was exhibited at M. Knoedler & Co., New York in 1882 (no. 2) with the following caption by the artist: "Another young and bold attempt to do something unusual. The lines are too heavily bitten and do not blend with the drypoint work."