Art Collections Online
The Weaver
GONCHAROVA, Natalia (1881 - 1962)

Date: 1910
Media: oil on canvas
Size: 154. 4 x 99.8 cm
Acquired: 1975; Purchase
Accession Number: NMW A 2056
The daughter of an architect, Goncharova studied art at Moscow, where she met her lifetime companion, the painter Mikhail Larionov. In 1911 Goncharova made her first designs for Diaghilev's Russian ballet and in 1917 she settled permanently in Paris. This vibrant Futurist composition of 1912-13 depicts a woman in a headscarf leaning over an industrial loom, illuminated by an electric light.
Comments - (6)
While general expert opinion confirms the date as 1912-13, Goncharova (sometimes the spelling includes a ‘t’) actually dated the work on the reverse of the painting as 1910. As it does not appear to be listed in Eli Eganbury’s 'List of Works of Natalia Gontcharova and Mikhail Larionov 1900-1913' (Moscow, 1913), it is presumed she painted it after Eganbury’s work went to print. It was exhibited at her first Paris exhibition in June 1914 as 'La Machine et la Femme' (1912). It is believed she added this date some years later from memory and incorrectly dated her own work.
Melanie
Hi Despairing,
Just to follow up, you can see this painting in gallery 14 at National Museum Cardiff. You can visit for free, there's more information on our Visit Us page.
Thanks for your enquiry,
Sara
Digital Team
Dear Despairing,
I will pass your enquiry on to the Art Department, and post their response here.
Many thanks for your enquiry,
Sara
Digital Team