La Blanchisseuse
1756
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 31.2 x 22.4 cm (12 5/16 x 8 13/16 in.) mount: 41.2 x 31.6 cm (16 1/4 x 12 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Phillips Family Fund
Accession Number
2009.81.1
Art Historical Context
**La Blanchisseuse ( Washerwoman), 1756** Françoisoucher, a leading figure of the French Rococo movement, created *La Blanchisseuse* as an etching on laid paper, a technique that allowed him to capture intricate details with fluid, expressive lines. Measuring 31.2 x 22.4 cm on its sheet, this print exemplifies Boucher's versatility beyond his famed paintings, showcasing his skill in translating the Rococo's playful elegance into reproductive art. Rococo, flourishing in mid-18th-century France under Louis XV, emphasized lightness, ornamentation, and scenes of everyday grace, often infused with...
About the Artist
François Boucher · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...