The Young Brush Washer (richet 1861)

The Young Brush Washer,
French School, 19th Century,
Signed RICHET and dated 61 for 1861 lower left,
Oil on mahogany panel, 27 x 21.5 cm,
Excellent condition
Sold framed, 1100 Euros
The work is signed RICHET and dated 61 for 1861 lower left.

This delicate composition depicts a young boy seated on a wooden stool in a rustic interior.
Wearing a wide straw hat, the child is absorbed in a meticulous manual task. He wears traditional clothing consisting of a white shirt with puffed sleeves, a brick-red vest, and dark trousers, offering a warm color contrast against an earthy background.

The work

exudes an impression of calm and concentration. It captures a suspended moment, characteristic of the era's sensitivity to scenes of simple 19th-century life.
The setting is composed with restraint: a large terracotta jar in the foreground, a shelf laden with pottery in the background, and a painter's palette hanging on the wall, perhaps suggesting an artist's studio or a craftsman's home.
Richet uses soft side lighting that falls on the child's profile and the white of his sleeve, creating a chiaroscuro effect that adds depth to the scene.
The brushwork is vibrant and textured.
The background is treated with an almost Impressionistic freedom, while the boy's face and hands are rendered with more academic precision.