Housekeeper 1828

Camille Corot made this oil painting, Housekeeper, sometime in the mid-19th century. Corot, known for his landscapes, here depicts an intimate portrait of a domestic worker, probably on canvas. The brushstrokes are loose and expressive, almost as if the artist were sketching. Look at how Corot applied thin layers of paint, building up the image gradually, capturing the woman's likeness, her simple cap, and her shawl, with an economy of means. It gives you the feeling of a fleeting moment, rather than a formal, staged portrait. Corot uses color and tone to create form. The dark background contrasts with the light falling on the housekeeper’s face, drawing our attention to her expression. In the making, we see respect for an individual, and in the handling of paint, a valuing of the dignity of labor and the working class. This is a refreshing perspective that elevates the everyday into the realm of art.