The Laundress (Greuze)

The Laundress (Greuze) is the title of several paintings by the French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze, the most famous of which dates to around 1761 and is currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting depicts a young woman, presumed to be a laundress due to the presence of laundry items in the background and her attire, holding a bundle of clean linen.

The painting is noted for its sentimental tone and its depiction of working-class life, a common theme in Greuze's oeuvre. The laundress is portrayed with a delicate beauty and a sense of quiet dignity, elevating the subject matter beyond a simple genre scene. Critics and art historians have interpreted the painting in various ways, some seeing it as a celebration of virtue and industry, while others view it as a commentary on the economic realities and social vulnerability of women in 18th-century France.

The pose of the laundress, leaning forward slightly with a thoughtful expression, contributes to the emotional impact of the artwork. Her clothing, while simple, is rendered with careful detail, and the soft lighting enhances the overall mood of gentle introspection. The painting became highly popular and was widely reproduced as engravings, further contributing to Greuze's reputation as a leading artist of his time. Other versions of "The Laundress" by Greuze exist, though the Louvre version remains the most celebrated.