The Laundresses
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 17 13/16 × 13 3/8 in. (45.3 × 34 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1962
Accession Number
62.602.52
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints collection, where you'll find *The Laundresses*, captivating etching and engraving from around 1762. Created by engraver François Voyez ( Jeune) after a composition by Louis de Boull the Elder—a prominent French Baroque painter—this print measures a generous 17 13/16 × 13 3/8 inches (trimmed). It vividly captures everyday life with women at work as laundresses, alongside, in a scene enriched by a prominent coat of arms, blending humble labor with symbols of status. Etching and engraving were masterful techniques of the 18th century, allowing Voyez to reproduce Boullogne's dynamic figures with intricate line work and tonal depth. Etching provided fluid, painterly effects, while engraving added precise details, making high art accessible through affordable prints. This medium democratized imagery, bridging elite patronage and public appreciation during the Rococo era's shift toward genre scenes of ordinary folk. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1962, *The Laundresses* offers a window into 18th-century French society, highlighting the dignity of working women amid heraldic grandeur. It's a delightful nod to how art elevated the mundane, inviting you to ponder the lives behind the suds.
About the Artist
Francois Voyez (Le Jeune)|Louis de Boullogne the Elder (French|French) · 1746 |1609 –1805 |1674
French, Abbeville 1746–1805 Paris|French, Paris 1609–1674 Paris