Artwork
La Mere laborieuse
La Mere laborieuse is an ink print by the Baroque artist Bernard Lépicié. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Bernard Lépicié’s 1740 engraving titled *La Mère laborieuse* presents a domestic scene centered on a woman engaged in laundry while attending to a child. Rendered in fine line work, the image captures a moment of quiet industry, emphasizing the physical exertion and maternal care that define everyday life in the mid‑eighteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition foregrounds the mother’s weary yet compassionate demeanor, conveyed through the meticulous rendering of her face and hands. Her expression suggests fatigue tempered by tenderness, inviting viewers to contemplate the dignity of labor and the often‑overlooked emotional landscape of household work during the period.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the work relies on incised lines to build texture and tonal variation. Lépicié’s precise hatching creates subtle gradations that model the skin, fabric, and water, while the controlled use of light and shadow enhances the three‑dimensionality of the figures, reflecting the technical rigor of French printmaking in the 1740s.
History & Provenance
Created in 1740, the print reflects Lépicié’s interest in genre subjects that document ordinary French life. While specific ownership records are scarce, the engraving has been catalogued in several 19th‑century collections of French prints, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of genre imagery.
Artist & collection
