Artwork
Das Bleichen der Wäsche. Studie für die Bemalung des Ofens in Stampa
Das Bleichen der Wäsche. Studie für die Bemalung des Ofens in Stampa is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Giovanni Giacometti. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Created in 1907, *Das Bleichen der Wäsche.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1907, *Das Bleichen der Wäsche. Studie für die Bemalung des Ofens in Stampa* is a modestly sized oil painting by Swiss artist Giovanni Giacometti. Executed as a preparatory study for a larger mural intended for a fireplace in the village of Stampa, the work now belongs to the permanent collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents three women engaged in the traditional task of bleaching laundry outdoors. Two figures stand, one in a white dress with a blue skirt and another in a blue dress with a white shirt, while a third sits on the ground wearing a red dress topped with a green blouse. The quiet activity and gentle interaction convey a calm, domestic rhythm.
Technique & Style
Working within the post‑impressionist idiom, Giacometti applies a warm, harmonious palette that unifies the figures with the surrounding foliage. Broad, fluid brushstrokes render the trees and grass, while the clothing is delineated with slightly more defined color patches, creating a balance between atmospheric ambience and the concrete details of the scene.
History & Provenance
After serving as a study for the Stampa mural, the painting entered the Swiss art market in the early twentieth century and was eventually acquired by the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s representation of early modern Swiss painting.
Context
Giovanni Giacometto was active during a period when Swiss artists were integrating French post‑impressionist influences with local subjects. The work reflects his interest in everyday rural life, a theme that runs through his oeuvre and that would later be echoed by his sons—Alberto, Diego, and architect Bruno Giacometti—who each pursued artistic careers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Ulrico Giacometti (7 March 1868 – 25 June 1933) was a Swiss painter. He was the father of artists Alberto and Diego Giacometti and architect Bruno Giacometti.
