Volpini Suite: Laundresses (Les Laveuses) is a significant print created by Paul Gauguin in 1889. This striking example of early graphic work is executed as a zincograph, a technical process related to lithography where the artist draws directly onto a zinc plate. Utilizing this medium, which allows for robust lines and high contrast, Gauguin was able to produce editions quickly, aligning with the spirit of the avant-garde exhibitions of the period.
The piece is part of the influential Volpini Suite, a collection of eleven prints showcased at the Café Volpini in Paris, France, during the 1889 Exposition Universelle. This independent exhibition was crucial in establishing Gauguin's Symbolist and Synthetist methodology, setting him apart from his Impressionist peers. The subject matter depicts everyday figures engaged in manual labor, specifically laundresses, a common sight in 19th-century peasant life.
Gauguin’s treatment rejects academic realism in favor of a powerful, simplified depiction. The composition relies on strong silhouettes and stark, flat areas of shadow and light, a style often referred to as Primitivism, which Gauguin explored intensively during this transitional year. This innovative approach to printmaking emphasizes pattern and emotional weight over photographic representation.
As a key document in the artist's development toward abstraction, Laundresses provides crucial insight into Gauguin's transition from Post-Impressionism to a Symbolist master. This important print is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
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