The Laundress
1756
Medium
Etching; first state of two
Dimensions
image: 11 5/8 x 8 7/16 in. (29.6 x 21.4 cm) plate: 12 3/8 x 8 3/4 in. (31.5 x 22.3 cm) sheet: 18 7/8 x 13 3/4 in. (48 x 35 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1955
Accession Number
55.503.31
Tags
Art Historical Context
François Boucher's *The Laundress* (1756) is a delicate etching from the first state two, capturing the Rococo master's signature elegance in print form. Measuring about 11⅝ × 8½ inches, this work belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, gifted through The Elisha Whittelsey Collection.oucher, a leading French artist of the 18th century and favorite of Madame de Pompad, was renowned for his playful, sensual depictions of everyday life infused with mythological grace. As an etching—a technique where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate—this print exe...
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...