Accession Number
1973/2.78

Title
The Laundress

Artist(s)
Aristide Maillol

Artist Nationality
French (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1896

Medium & Support
bronze

Dimensions
4 1/8 in x 10 7/8 in x 7 13/16 in (10.5 cm x 27.6 cm x 19.9 cm);4 1/8 in x 10 7/8 in x 7 13/16 in (10.5 cm x 27.6 cm x 19.9 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
Early in Maillol's career, he created many small sculptures of female figures, usually nudes. (See 1985/1.27) This example is unique, because it depicts a clothed figure engaged in a particular task – a laundress. He used a similar subject matter in other media: painting, drawing, prints and wood carving. In this sculpture, his treatment of the folds and swirls of her clothing shows his particular interest in the expressive quality of line.

Physical Description
This bronze sculpture depicts a female figure kneeling, bending forward with her arms outstretched. She grasps a long piece of cloth that is stretched on the ground in front of her, as she looks directly at the cloth with intent. The woman is wearing a long skirt, which covers her legs and feet and swirls around her on the ground. Her blouse has flowing sleeves that end at the elbows, leaving her forearms bare. Her hair is pulled back and gathered into a knot. The bronze has a dark green patina and the surface of the statue is smooth and polished.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
casting

Additional Object Classification(s)
Sculpture

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
bronze (metal)
kneeling
laundresses
women (female humans)