Willow Basket Weaver in Zagreb Workshop

Pale afternoon light bounces off the cream-colored plaster walls of a Zagreb workshop, illuminating a basket weaver seated at a sturdy wooden workbench. The artisan, viewed from behind, wears a heavy wool sweater in charcoal gray, signaling the chill of late autumn. Bundles of pale willow rods, stripped of their bark, fan out across the table, their flexible tips catching the flat, overhead illumination. Clean, uncluttered surfaces surround the workspace, revealing only the essential tools and the emerging curve of a woven vessel. The texture of the rough wood contrasts with the smooth, silken finish of the prepared willow strips. One shadow falls across the edge of the bench where a loose twig rests.