Artwork
La modiste
La modiste is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Norbert Goeneutte. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La modiste is an etching created by French artist Norbert Goeneutte in 1895. The work is executed in brown on green Japan paper.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a milliner at work, surrounded by the trappings of her trade. Two women are shown indoors, one adjusting a hat on the other's head, capturing a moment of everyday life and highlighting the artisanal skills of the period.
Technique & Style
The print is characterized by loose, expressive lines and shading that conveys texture and form. The etching technique used by Goeneutte allows for rich, dark tones, achieved by leaving ink in the grooves of the plate, giving the work a spontaneous, sketch-like quality.
Context
Goeneutte's work reflects the late 19th-century interest in genre scenes and artisanal trades, as well as his involvement in the broader artistic and literary movements of his time, including his work on Émile Zola's novel La Terre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Norbert Goeneutte (23 July 1854 – 9 October 1894) was a French painter, etcher and illustrator; notably for the novel La Terre by Émile Zola.
Boulevard Clichy in the Snow (Le boulevard Clichy par un temps de neige)
Sketch of a Young Lady in Violet (Esquisse de jeune femme a la violette)
The Seine at Quilleboeuf (La Seine a Quilleboeuf)
A Moonlit Harbor
Rialto
Smiling Woman Reclining on a Sofa (Femme souriant etendue sur un canape)
The Mill at Saint Jacut (Le moulin de Saint Jacut)
La modiste
