Unlike other French painters of his era (late 18th century), Greuze often painted domestic scenes and his depictions of people are highly empathetic. This ink and chalk work focuses on a woman and two young children. The room they are in is sparsely furnished and almost dungeon-like. The woman seems exhausted, the left side of her head resting on her bent left arm, eyes appearing closed. Nearby in a corner, the children are tangled up with each other–playing or fighting. They pay the woman no heed–they are occupied with each other–yet, because they are close by, they are clearly her responsibility. Although it is not clear that the woman is the children’s mother, this work could be compared with Greuze’s study of “The Well-Beloved Mother”.
In that drawing a mother leans back in her chair, surrounded by clamoring children who snuggle, kiss, pull at her. Clothing is scattered about – on the floor, on a basket. Several dogs lean toward the figures, adding to the domesticity of the scene.
Web image from National Gallery of Art.
