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The Laundresses by Jean Honoré Fragonard

The Laundresses

Jean Honoré Fragonard·1758

Historical Context

The Laundresses at the Saint Louis Art Museum dates from Fragonard's early period around 1758, reflecting his interest in everyday domestic labor. While Fragonard is best known for his aristocratic fetes galantes, he also produced genre scenes influenced by Dutch and Flemish painting traditions. This genre scene demonstrates Fragonard's engagement with the Dutch and Flemish tradition of domestic labor subjects, absorbed during his study of Dutch masters in Paris collections. His handling of l...

Technical Analysis

The warm tonality and carefully observed light effects on the laundry scene show Fragonard's debt to Dutch genre painting. The composition balances the working figures against the surrounding domestic environment.

See It In Person

Saint Louis Art Museum

St. Louis, United States

Visit museum website →

Quick Facts

Medium
Oil paint
Era
Rococo
Style
French Rococo
Genre
Religious
Location
Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis
View on museum website →

More by Jean Honoré Fragonard

Portrait of a Man in Costume by Jean Honoré Fragonard

Portrait of a Man in Costume

Jean Honoré Fragonard·c. 1767–68

Dramatic Scene with Monks in a Crypt by Alexandre Evariste Fragonard

Dramatic Scene with Monks in a Crypt

Alexandre Evariste Fragonard·1800

Allegory of Vigilance by Jean Honoré Fragonard

Allegory of Vigilance

Jean Honoré Fragonard·ca. 1772

Portrait of a Young Woman by Jean Honoré Fragonard

Portrait of a Young Woman

Jean Honoré Fragonard·1770s

More from the Rococo Period

Annunciation to the Shepherds by Jacopo Bassano

Annunciation to the Shepherds

Jacopo Bassano·c. 1710

The Madonna with the Seven Founders of the Servite Order by Agostino Masucci

The Madonna with the Seven Founders of the Servite Order

Agostino Masucci·c. 1728

Theodosius Repulsed from the Church by Saint Ambrose by Alessandro Magnasco

Theodosius Repulsed from the Church by Saint Ambrose

Alessandro Magnasco·c. 1705

Arcadian Landscape with Figures by Alessandro Magnasco

Arcadian Landscape with Figures

Alessandro Magnasco·c. 1700