77. Household Chores [1914-1915]

His creation abounds in paintings inspired by the life of nomads, the daily life of people, where the typologies that Băncilă addresses are the realization of the female character, who most often embodies the scribe, the washerwoman or the witch. A work representative for the concern of the artist Octav Băncilă to capture the daily life of simple people, a subject that will be revisited by him in the following years, "The Washerwoman" realistically and empathetically depicts a woman caught in the act of working. Her face bears the traces of fatigue, and her gestures, although simple, betray the strength and patience accumulated over time. Her modest clothing, damp hands, and slightly hunched attitude convey the authenticity of the rural scene. The warm palette, in earthy tones of brown and red, as well as the diffuse light shape both the atmosphere of hard work and the worthiness of the created character. Through this scene, the painter affirms his humanism and social sensitivity, characteristics of his entire creation.

References

COMAN, Anton, "Octav Băncilă", State Publishing House for Literature and Art, Bucharest, 1954.

Dimensions

width 44 cm, height 50 cm

Description

ulei pe pânză, signed lower right, in ochre, "O. Băncilă"

Research information

The work participated in the Octav Băncilă Exhibition (1872-1972), Museum of Art of the RSR, July-August 1972, and is reproduced in the exhibition catalog at number 75.

Dating

1914-1915

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