Artwork

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Right

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Right, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1622
Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Right, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1622

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Right 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

Peasant Woman with Basket, in Profile, Facing Right is a 1622 etching on laid paper by Jacques Callot, a prolific French Baroque printmaker and draftsman. This work exemplifies Callot's documentary approach to his contemporary social landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The etching portrays a peasant woman in profile, walking to the right, with a basket under her left arm. Her attire and the basket imply daily labor, offering a glimpse into the life of a commoner during the Baroque era.

Technique & Style

Callot employed fine, intricate linework and shading to achieve depth and texture in the etching. While characteristic of Baroque attention to detail, the overall mood remains observational rather than dramatically emotive.

History & Provenance

Created in 1622, this etching is part of Callot's extensive oeuvre of over 1,400 works. Specific provenance details for this piece are not provided.

Context

This work reflects the Baroque movement's emphasis on detailed representation of everyday life. Callot's focus on a peasant figure contributes to his broader documentation of 17th-century social classes.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacques Callot

Artist

Jacques Callot

Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.