The Washerwomen of the Breton Coast, Jules Breton
These women are washing clothing in fresh water flowing from the rock at right, where two women are drawing water. A woman with her finished laundry heads back to the village on the path coming down to the beach. It appears to be afternoon with the sun blocked by surrounding hills and the tide is out. The women scrub the clothing using their paddles and soap then twist them dry on spindles. Brittany is on the northern coast of France near the English Channel.
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections: