Who painted Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left?

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left was painted by Jacques Callot in 1622.

Where can I see Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left?

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left?

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left

Jacques Callot , 1622

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Left is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1622, this etching by Jacques Callot depicts a peasant woman shown in profile, her arm bearing a basket. Executed on laid paper, the image forms part of Callot’s extensive series of prints that focus on everyday figures, rendered with the meticulous line work characteristic of early‑17th‑century French printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a solitary rural woman, her attire and the basket suggesting a domestic or market activity. By isolating her in profile, Callot emphasizes the ordinary dignity of labor, aligning the figure with his broader interest in documenting the lives of common folk alongside soldiers and beggars.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a copper plate and using acid to bite the design. The resulting marks on the paper are sharply rendered, especially in the intricate folds of the dress, demonstrating his skill in achieving precise, delicate detail within the old‑master print tradition.

History & Provenance

The work originates from Callot’s prolific output of more than 1,400 prints, produced while he worked in the Duchy of Lorraine. It belongs to a series that circulated among collectors and patrons interested in realistic genre scenes, though specific ownership records for this individual print are limited.

Context

During the early Baroque period, French artists increasingly turned to genre subjects, moving beyond strictly religious or mythological themes. Callot’s focus on peasants, soldiers, and street life reflects this shift, offering a visual record of contemporary social strata and urban environments.