A Turkish woman, dressed in white from head to toe, is spinning cotton in a secluded lane in Kakopetria village on Troodos. One cannot help but notice the roofs of the houses which at that time were made out of layers of mud and straw.
As time went by, Kakopetria village prospered as a fruit centre and a summer resort. The houses were upgraded with tiled roofs which better served in the winter months when snow came down.
Cyprus was famous for the production of cotton, flux and silk, predominantly the work of women. Cotton was spun at home with the help of a wooden contraption called doulapi, as seen in the picture.
The artist has created a long vista in the painting whereby the wooden ladder on the left counteracts the outstretched woman’s arm on the right.
PNT-00459 > Rudyerd, Barrows Reginald, Woman spinning cotton, Kikopatria, watercolour, 14 x 10 cm, 1888.
The 'Sneak Peek' series is supported by OPAP (Cyprus)
