The Little Laundress

Series Title: Album des peintres-graveurs

1896

Ambroise Vollard

(French, 1867–1939)

Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

color lithograph on China paper

Measurements

Image: 29 x 19.7 cm (11 7/16 x 7 3/4 in.); Sheet: 45.4 x 33.7 cm (17 7/8 x 13 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift 2020.151

Catalogue raisonné

Bouvet 40

State

I/I

Impression

46/100

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Bonnard was commissioned to create this print by the renowned art dealer Ambroise Vollard for inclusion in his luxury print portfolio titled Album des peintres-graveurs.

Description

This print depicts one of the many women and girls who worked in the Parisian laundry industry during the late 19th century. Carrying a basket that nearly matches her own size, a small silhouetted figure makes her way down an empty street, either picking up or dropping off clothes to a client. Bonnard represented the scene with minimal detail, portraying the laundress as a dark silhouette in stark contrast to the light cobblestones of the street on which she walks.