{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O652308"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O652308/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PR5235/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PR5235/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PR5235","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O652308/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O652308","accessionNumber":"20558:45","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"The Washers","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Les Laveuses","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This etching is from <i>Eaux-Fortes Modernes</i>, a series of prints published in Paris by the Société des Aquafortistes (Society of Etchers), between 1862 and 1867. The Société des Aquafortistes was established in 1862 by publishers Alfred Cadart (1828-1875) and Joseph Jules Luquet (1824-1904), as well as printer Auguste Delâtre (1822–1907) with the aim of promoting the practice of etching to artists and the general public. Etching had been practised by artists since the late fifteenth century, but by the nineteenth century its popularity had declined with the rise of lithography and the dominance of reproductive engraving. By the 1860s in France, however, a significant revival was underway. The nineteenth-century etching revival, which occurred in France, Britain, and America, was characterised by artists reclaimed etching as an autonomous art form, aligning themselves with the tradition of the ‘peintre-graveur’ (painter-printmaker) and looking to earlier great masters of the medium, like Rembrandt. In this renewed context, etching was valued for its immediacy and originality, ideas that informed the foundation of the Société des Aquafortistes and projects like <i>Eaux-Fortes Modernes</i>. \r\nThe Society’s headquarters in Paris had a public exhibition space, sold prints and provided a studio for etchers. They produced portfolios of original prints by contemporary artists, <i>Eaux-Fortes Modernes</i>, being one of their most popular. These were sold via a subscription service. The subject matter of the etchings varied, but often included landscapes, demonstrating etching’s ability to reproduce scenes from life. The Society published five volumes of <i>Eaux-Fortes Modernes</i>, including 300 prints made by notable artists including Charles Meryon, Alphonse Legros, Camille Corot and Édouard Manet.\r\n","physicalDescription":"A group of women and children washing clothes on a river's edge, steps behind leading up to a building and town beyond. Two boats at the water's edge, and on the other side of the water, more buildings and figures.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Constantin, Auguste","id":"AUTH412967"},"association":{"text":"printmaker","id":"AAT25164"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Delâtre, Auguste","id":"A4334"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Cadart","id":"A34159"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"etching (printing process)","id":"AAT53241"},{"text":"letterpress printing","id":"AAT178926"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Etching on paper","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[{"text":"French","id":"AAT111188"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2026PR5235"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLD","id":"THES49658"},"free":"","case":"BB","shelf":"3","box":"A"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1863-64","earliest":"1863-01-01","latest":"1864-12-31"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"31.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Plate","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"35.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Plate","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"55.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"35.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Sheet","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'105.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Upper right"},{"content":"'Aug<sup>te</sup> Constantin'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signed lower left"},{"content":"'Imp. Delâtre, Rue S<sup>t</sup>. Jacques, 3o3, Paris.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Lower right"},{"content":"'LES LAVEUSES.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Lower centre"},{"content":"'Paris. Publié par CADART & LUQUET, Editeurs, 79 Rue Richelieu.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Lower centre"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Les Laveuses' (The Washers), etching by Auguste Constantin, published by Cadart & Luquet for <i>Eaux-Fortes Modernes</i>, Paris, 1863-64","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"washers","id":"AAT36432"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["20558:45"],"accessionNumberNum":"20558","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-08-06","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}