édouard Castres (1838-1902) The Knitter

The Work :

The Young Knitter Oil/Cardboard 29.5 X 22.5
Good condition Signed at the bottom left and dedicated "to Mr. E.Michaud as a souvenir of friendship"
Discreet and slight gaps in the pictorial layer in the lower part of the painting (visible in the photos)

Sold framed This captivating portrait presents a young woman sitting down, immersed in her knitting work.
Dressed in a well-executed traditional costume, she embodies the rural life and clothing traditions of the late 19th century transalpine.
The artist chose a natural pose, capturing a moment of domestic tranquility.
The gaze of the woman, directed towards the left, gives the work a pensive and enigmatic expression.
The work is characterized by a realistic mastery, with particular attention paid to textures: the softness of the fabric of the shawl, the smooth rendering of the skin on the face, and the pronounced folds of the clothes.

The color palette is dominated by the warm tones of the ochre background and red apron, contrasting with the bright white of the headdress and the deep green of the floor jar to the left.

The soft light highlights the face and busy hands of the woman.


The Artist :

Édouard Castres (Geneva 1838 - Annemasse 1902) Edouard Castres is a Swiss artist, born on June 21, 1838 in Geneva and died on June 28, 1902 in Annemasse.

Édouard Castres is considered one of the most outstanding Swiss painters of his time. Initially trained under Barthélemy Menn in Geneva, then at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, he developed a pronounced taste for military scenes, landscapes and genre scenes.

His mastery of various techniques, including watercolor, oil paintings, and even ceramic and enamel paintings, allows him to create works of great expressive and visual richness.
His career notably marks the history of art thanks to his masterwork: the famous Bourbaki panorama from Lucerne. Measuring 112 meters long by 10 meters high, this monumental fresco illustrates with realism and emotion the tragic passage of the French army of General Bourbaki in Switzerland during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. Édouard Castres has regularly exhibited in Geneva since 1868, notably at the Rath Museum in Geneva.
Today, his famous panorama is exhibited at the Panorama Bourbaki Museum in Lucerne, Switzerland, which has become a true European cultural monument admired by a large international audience. His considerable heritage continues to appeal to collectors and lovers of prestigious art. Museums and major exhibitions: Bourbaki Panorama Museum in Lucerne, Switzerland (permanent presentation of the famous panorama) Rath Museum in Geneva (various historical exhibitions of his works)