Artwork
Washerwomen Setting the Linens Out to Dry
Washerwomen Setting the Linens Out to Dry is a pastel drawing by the Impressionist artist Léon Augustin Lhermitte. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:At lower right in black charcoal by the artist, L. Lhermitte
About this work
Overview
Léon Augustin Lhermitte’s drawing titled Washerwomen Setting the Linens Out to Dry was executed in 1884. The work combines black charcoal with brown pastel on wove paper that has been adhered to a board, creating a single‑sheet drawing that records a domestic scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a group of women engaged in the routine task of hanging freshly washed linens to dry. By focusing on ordinary labor, the image reflects a realist interest in everyday life and the dignity of work.
Technique & Style
Lhermitte employs charcoal for the structural outlines and brown pastel for tonal modeling, allowing subtle gradations of light across the fabric and figures. The use of wove paper on board provides a firm support that preserves the delicate pastel application.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, the drawing belongs to Lhermitte’s mature period, during which he frequently explored rural and domestic subjects. Details of its acquisition history are not publicly recorded.
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