Accession Number1983/2.250
TitleYoung Girl Knitting (Jeune fille tricotant)
Artist(s)Camille PissarroObject Creation Date1876Medium & Supportoil on canvasDimensions 22 1/16 in. x 18 1/8 in. ( 56 cm x 46.1 cm )
Credit LineMuseum Purchase made possible by the Friends of the Museum of ArtLabel copyPainted during Pissarro’s tenure in Pontoise (1872–1884), "Young Woman Knitting" remained in the artist’s private collection until his death, at which point it passed into the hands of his son, Emile Paul Pissarro. "Young Woman Knitting" is a paramount example of the domestic interior scenes featuring women that were popular among late nineteenth-century French painters. Such images functioned to confirm visually the belief that, while the proper sphere of a man’s life was public, a woman’s role in society could only be played out in the private sphere of the home.
The Japanese fan in the background speaks to Pissarro’s interest in Japanese art and, more generally, to the widespread preoccupation among European artists of this period with "Oriental" (non-European) art. Alfred Steven’s "Hide-and-Seek (Cache-Cache)", is another object in the collection that provides evidence of this prominent cultural and artistic trend.
Subject matterCandid-type portrait of a girl knitting, more realistic setting in impressionistic style.
Physical DescriptionA girl seen in profile sits, knitting something red. There is a table beyond her and a fireplace with a fan above on the wall on the right side.
Primary Object ClassificationPaintingCollection AreaWesternRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
Figures
candles
fans (costume accessories)
fireplaces
girl
knitting (process)
lamp
seated
table
tablecloths