Goose Girl

Goose Girl is a delicate etching and drypoint created by Camille Pissarro in 1888. This particular example is the third state of three, printed on fine china paper, highlighting Pissarro's intensive exploration of graphic arts techniques late in his career. The work captures a quiet, pastoral scene: a young girl, the titular figure, tending to her flock of geese. She is positioned centrally beneath a dense canopy of trees, observing the animals as they feed or rest in the foreground.

Pissarro, a foundational figure in Impressionism, dedicated significant effort to the graphic arts, utilizing prints to explore themes of rural labor and peasant life, a subject popular among many French artists during the late 19th century. The combination of etching and drypoint allows for contrasting textures; the etched lines provide overall structure, while the drypoint burr creates rich, velvety shadows, particularly evident in the depiction of the trees and the young girl’s simple attire.

The composition emphasizes the harmony between the young caretaker and her environment. Pissarro successfully merges the figures with the natural setting, utilizing precise, modulated line work rather than color to define light and atmosphere. As an important example of 19th-century French prints detailing daily life, this intimate piece demonstrates the artist’s mastery of the medium. The work is currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to its historical significance and institutional custodianship, high-resolution reproductions of this masterwork often fall within the public domain, making Pissarro’s vision accessible for contemporary study.