The Dismissed Servant 1744 - 1754

"The Dismissed Servant" (1744-1754) is an etching by Jean-Joseph Baléchou. This print depicts a scene of domestic drama in which a servant, dressed in a simple gown, is being dismissed by her mistress, who is crying as she holds a handkerchief. The mistress stands near a chest, implying the servant is being sent away with her belongings, while the servant sits at a table and appears to be arguing. The artwork, with its focus on the emotional turmoil of both characters, highlights the social complexities of servant-master relationships in 18th-century France.