Goose Girl (1888, Met-Objekt 656)
Original title: Goose Girl
kurzbeschreibung
Camille Pissarro made this etching with drypoint in 1888, titling it Gänsemädchen (Goose Girl). A rural episode unfolds by a river, with ducks and a figure seated on the bank. The impression was pulled on china paper and represents the third of three states.
Description
A river runs across the foreground, carrying three ducks. On the left bank a person has settled and looks toward the birds. Two prominent trees frame the view at the sides; beyond them, more foliage and a fence appear. The light feels soft and undirected, giving the sheet a peaceful note. The image remains black and white, combining fine hatching with the possibilities of drypoint.
Context
Pissarro created the motif in 1888, a period when he was deeply engaged with printmaking. He was then among the Impressionists and often turned to rural subjects, which he frequently found around Éragny, his home at the time. The etching was printed in an edition and issued in three states — an approach that reveals Pissarro's penchant for experimentation.
Impact
The quiet river scene with ducks and the seated figure evokes an idyllic, contemplative mood. Through delicate linework and the soft transitions of drypoint, a familiar, almost poetic atmosphere emerges, drawing the viewer into the rural calm.
Technique
The etching with drypoint was printed on china paper. In etching, the plate is bitten with acid, while drypoint adds softer lines and tonal gradations. This impression belongs to the third state, meaning the plate was reworked several times to achieve the desired effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)