The present painting depicts an intimate scene of rural life that is characteristic of Max Liebermann. It shows a peasant woman standing in a shed and looking through a door onto a dune landscape. The woman is absorbed in her everyday activities, which lends the picture a calm and intimate atmosphere. The depiction of the lighting conditions, especially the contrast between the dark interior of the shed and the light-coloured dune landscape, creates a subtle tension.
At the same time, the composition describes the connection between the interior and exterior world, a frequent subject in Liebermann's work.
Liebermann's work is characterised by the depiction of simple people in their natural surroundings. This focus on the everyday and inconspicuous represents a deliberate departure from the idealised and often historical themes of 19th century academic painting.
