Well Cleaner 1746

"Well Cleaner" (1746) is an etching by French artist Anne Claude Philippe Caylus. The print, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a working-class man holding a long pole with a hook, rope, and bucket, likely used for drawing water from a well. The subject is positioned beside a stone well and his somber expression hints at the laborious nature of his work. This etching belongs to a series of "Recueil d’estampes gravées d’après les dessins originaux de M. le Comte de Caylus" depicting tradespeople, artisans, and everyday life in 18th-century France. Caylus was a prolific collector and artist who contributed to the revival of interest in ancient art and techniques. His prints were popular during his lifetime and continue to provide insight into the social and economic realities of his time.