Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate (Laitiere a Boulogne) 

Alphonse Legros' "Milkmaid of Boulogne, 1st plate" is a powerful etching capturing the hard labor of a French milkmaid. The milkmaid, wrapped in a voluminous cloak, guides a donkey burdened with milk cans. The simplicity of the composition highlights the stark reality of rural life, with the donkey’s fatigue echoing the woman’s weary gait. Legros' meticulous detail and use of tonal variations convey a sense of realism, reflecting the artist’s interest in depicting the lives of everyday people, a recurring theme in his work. This etching exemplifies the realist movement in 19th-century art.