Egg-sellers, 1st plate (Les marchandes d'oeufs) 

Alphonse Legros created "Egg-sellers, 1st plate" using etching. The composition is dominated by the subtle gradations of tone achieved through delicate lines, creating a sombre mood. The linear quality of the etching emphasizes the forms of the two women and their basket, which is placed centrally. The arrangement is simple but thoughtful, reflecting Legros' interest in the everyday lives of working-class people. The visual language suggests a commentary on labor and existence. Legros’s print invites us to look beyond the surface. The texture of the lines and the way light and shadow are handled invite us to ponder the broader social contexts of the artwork and the human conditions that defined them.