The Spinners (Las Hilanderas)

Diego Velázquez painted The Spinners (Las Hilanderas) around 1657. The foreground shows women working at the Royal Tapestry Factory of Santa Isabel, their spinning wheel blurred with motion. In the background, elegantly dressed figures examine a tapestry depicting the myth of Arachne.

Velázquez creates a notable contrast between the dark, active workspace and the bright alcove beyond. The spinning wheel's blur demonstrates his interest in capturing movement. The background tapestry shows Athena punishing Arachne for daring to rival the goddess's weaving skills, a story about artistic pride and divine retribution.

Later additions extended the canvas on all sides, altering Velázquez's original composition. The Prado displays the painting at its expanded size. Art historians continue debating the layers of meaning Velázquez embedded in this apparently simple scene.