Who painted Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)?

Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne) was painted by Alphonse Legros in 1874.

Where can I see Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)?

Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)?

Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne) is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)?

Museum-quality prints of Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne)

Alphonse Legros , 1874

Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Alphonse Legros produced the etching *Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate* in 1874. Executed in black‑and‑white, the print shows a rural figure carrying milk, accompanied by a donkey laden with jugs, moving along a path beneath a gently rolling landscape. The composition balances figure and environment, offering a quiet glimpse of daily labour in a nineteenth‑century French setting.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a woman dressed in a dark gown and headscarf, holding a stick while guiding a donkey that bears two large milk containers. Her activity of milking and transporting milk reflects Legros’s interest in ordinary occupations and the dignity of manual work, inviting viewers to consider the rhythms of rural life.

Technique & Style

Created through the traditional etching process, the image relies on fine line work and tonal variation to render texture in the woman's clothing, the animal’s fur, and the distant hills. The treatment aligns with Romantic sensibilities, emphasizing natural scenery and the emotional resonance of commonplace scenes without resorting to overt dramatization.

History & Provenance

Born in France, Legros moved to London in 1863 and later acquired British citizenship, becoming a pivotal figure in the revival of British etching through his teaching at the Slade School. This 1874 plate exemplifies his early print output and illustrates the cross‑channel artistic exchange that marked his career.