Artwork
Strawberries
Strawberries is a print by Jean-Émile Laboureur. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean‑Émile Laboureur’s 1924 print *Strawberries* presents a quiet domestic scene. A woman in a loose dress and headscarf holds a pitcher brimming with ripe strawberries, while a leafy plant with spiky foliage and tiny blossoms occupies the background. The composition balances the figure and fruit, creating a modest yet focused still‑life tableau.
Subject & Meaning
The work centers on the tactile appeal of fresh strawberries, symbolising abundance and seasonal bounty. By placing the fruit in a pitcher held by a modestly dressed woman, Laboureur evokes everyday nourishment and the quiet rituals of the kitchen, inviting viewers to contemplate the simple pleasures of food and labor.
Technique & Style
Executed in Laboureur’s characteristic graphic manner, the print relies on strong line work and careful shading to model form. Contrasting areas of light and dark generate a subtle chiaroscuro effect, especially across the woman’s face and the fruit, giving the scene depth while maintaining a flat, illustrative quality typical of his early‑20th‑century prints.
History & Provenance
Created during a prolific period for Laboureur, who worked across painting, engraving, and illustration, the print reflects his interest in merging fine‑art techniques with commercial illustration. *Strawberries* was produced in 1924 and has since appeared in several French print collections, documenting the artist’s engagement with everyday subjects in the interwar years.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Émile Laboureur, known as Jean Émile (16 August 1877, Nantes – 16 June 1943, near Pénestin) was a French painter, designer, engraver, watercolorist, lithographer, and illustrator.
