Wash Day
Medium
Etching in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 14.7 × 19.7 cm (5 13/16 × 7 13/16 in.); Plate: 15.2 × 20.4 cm (6 × 8 1/16 in.); Sheet: 26.6 × 39 cm (10 1/2 × 15 3/8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
87499
Art Historical Context
**Wash Day** is evocative etching by American artist Frederick Blum (18571903), created around late 19th century Rendered in black ink luxurious ivory laid paper, print captures a slice of domestic life, likely centered the laborious ritual of laundry. Measuring a modest image size of 14.7 × 19.7 cm it exemplifies the intimate typical of etchings, for intricate details visible up in museum displays. Bl, renowned for his genre and influences from Japanese uyo-e prints and European, mastered etching—a technique acid etches fine lines a metal plate for rich tonal depth. The choice laid paper, wi...
About the Artist
Robert Frederick Blum · 1857–1903
American mural painter. Comment on works: painter