Artwork
Girl Carrying a Basket of Fruit
Girl Carrying a Basket of Fruit is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Salomon Gessner. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: S. Gessner inv. et f. 1770.; lower right in plate: 3.; by later hand, upper right in graphite: (27/10p)
About this work
Overview
Girl Carrying a Basket of Fruit is a black-and-white etching on laid paper by Salomon Gessner, dated to 1770. The print depicts a serene natural scene with four figures in a wooded setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman balancing a basket of fruit on her head, accompanied by two children and a man holding a branch in the background. The tranquil atmosphere and focus on everyday life suggest a celebration of simplicity and natural harmony.
Technique & Style
Gessner employed etching to achieve detailed textures, evident in the rendering of leaves and skin through varied shading. The absence of ornate elements underscores a emphasis on understated, naturalistic representation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1770, specific details regarding the work's provenance and exhibition history are not provided in the available information.
Context
Within the context of 18th-century art, this etching reflects a growing interest in pastoral themes and the everyday, potentially aligning with the sentimental and naturalistic tendencies of its time.
Legacy
The enduring significance or influence of 'Girl Carrying a Basket of Fruit' on subsequent artistic movements or practices is not specified in the given details.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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