A fisherman helping to twist the yarn into a ball - Edward Portielje

Oil on canvas

Signed lower left: "Edward Portielje."

Portielje was a Belgian genre painter. His first art lessons came from his father, Jan Portielje. Next he attended the Royal Athenaeum and later on he took classes at the Royal Academy of Fine arts.
Portielje specialized in genre scenes, with an occasional portrait or seascape. Much of his inspiration came from the fishing communities in Zealand. Many of his works are series of similar interior scenes, created according to the wishes of his agents. They generally consist of a room with a sunny window, occupied by women in traditional costume, engaged in some daily activities. These paintings were very popular, selling throughout Europe and the United States.