Artwork
Paris: Shelling Peas
Paris: Shelling Peas is a print by Ernest Haskell. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Paris: Shelling Peas is a 1910 print by American artist Ernest Haskell, depicting a quiet domestic moment in Paris. The work captures two women engaged in the routine task of preparing peas, rendered with subtle tonal contrasts and restrained detail. It belongs to the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is valued for its intimate portrayal of everyday life.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows an adult woman and a young girl seated at a table, their focus entirely on shelling peas. Their matching headscarves and simple dresses suggest shared labor and generational continuity. The absence of narrative drama or external context emphasizes the dignity of ordinary work, inviting contemplation rather than storytelling.
Technique & Style
Haskell employed a monochromatic print medium, likely etching or drypoint, to achieve soft gradations of gray. The composition centers the table and figures against a dark, undefined background, heightening the sense of intimacy. Delicate lines define fabric folds and hands at work, while minimal detail preserves the quietude of the moment.
History & Provenance
Created in 1910 during Haskell’s time in Paris, the print reflects his interest in European domestic scenes. It entered The Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection in the early 20th century, possibly through a donation or acquisition from a print dealer. Its preservation suggests early recognition of its quiet aesthetic value.
Context
At the turn of the 20th century, artists across Europe and America turned to humble, unidealized subjects as a counter to academic grandeur. Haskell’s print aligns with this trend, echoing the work of contemporaries who found beauty in domestic labor, particularly among working-class women in urban settings.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited, Paris: Shelling Peas remains a quiet example of early 20th-century American printmaking’s engagement with European life. Its endurance in a major museum collection underscores its role as a modest yet resonant record of everyday rhythm and female labor in the modern city.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernest Haskell was an American artist and illustrator, internationally famous in his lifetime and remembered for his etchings, as well as engravings, pen-and-ink drawings, lithographs and watercolors.
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