Artwork
Les Nourrices (The Nurses)
Les Nourrices (The Nurses) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-François Janinet. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jean‑François Janinet’s print Les Nourrices, executed in 1780, presents a domestic scene of childcare rendered in brown tones on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
Jean‑François Janinet’s print Les Nourrices, executed in 1780, presents a domestic scene of childcare rendered in brown tones on laid paper. The composition combines etched lines with aquatint washes, giving the image a soft, sketch‑like quality that emphasizes the gentle atmosphere of the setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a woman wearing a bonnet, cradling an infant while standing beside a cradle occupied by another child. A ladder leans against a nearby wall, and several youngsters are shown playing on the ground, suggesting a bustling household where multiple caregivers attend to the young.
Technique & Style
Janinet employed a hybrid printmaking process, integrating traditional etching with aquatint to achieve tonal depth, and incorporating drypoint for finer line work. The brown palette and loosely rendered forms create a warm, intimate texture that blurs the boundary between detailed illustration and spontaneous sketch.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of the eighteenth century, Les Nourrices reflects the period’s interest in genre scenes that document everyday life. The print is catalogued as a work on laid paper, a common support for French prints of the era, and remains attributed to Janinet, a noted French engraver active during the pre‑revolutionary period.
Artist & collection
