Laundress
1895 - 1905
Frédéric Houbron captures the daily grind of a Parisian laundress in this spirited sketch. The woman, burdened by a huge basket of laundry on her back, is rendered with loose, fluid strokes that emphasize her movement and the heavy load. The faint background suggests a bridge or street scene, typical of late 19th-century Parisian life studies. You can see the stamp of the Musée Carnavalet at the bottom, where this slice of history is kept.
Location: Musée Carnavalet, Paris