The Laundresses (Les blanchisseuses (La repassage)) is a definitive print created by Edgar Degas between 1879 and 1880, representing the artist’s sustained commitment to capturing scenes of Parisian working life. This work is classified as a print and was executed using the complex intaglio techniques of etching and aquatint on laid paper. As a leading figure in the French art scene spanning the period of 1876 to 1900, Degas frequently broke from traditional subject matter to focus on candid, unglamorous moments of labor, transforming commonplace duties into serious art. The medium of prints allowed him to explore the textural and tonal possibilities of black and white, enabling him to return to similar compositional challenges across various media.
Degas’s long-standing fascination with the lives of working women in Parisian society is evident in this depiction of laundresses, known collectively as blanchisseuses. Unlike the grand mythological or historical narratives favored by academic art during this period, this work captures the mundane intensity and physical exhaustion inherent in manual labor. Degas utilizes the technical capabilities of aquatint to create rich areas of tone, deep shadows, and nuanced light effects, which highlight the heavy volume and weary posture of the figures as they carry out their taxing duties, specifically the ironing (repassage). Degas was meticulous in his process, often manipulating the copper plate repeatedly to achieve specific atmospheric or graphic effects that enhanced the dramatic tension of the scene.
This emphasis on observational realism and the commitment to modern subject matter cemented Degas’s reputation as a critical figure in modern art history. This particular example of his graphic output resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of the age and importance of the artist, high-resolution prints and studies of Degas’s extensive body of work are often made available through various public domain initiatives, allowing broader scholarly and public access.
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