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De Werkvrouw (also titled "The Washerwoman") by Victor De Wilde

De Werkvrouw (also titled The Washerwoman) by Victor De Wilde

De Werkvrouw (also titled "The Washerwoman")

Victor De Wilde

Title

De Werkvrouw (also titled "The Washerwoman")

 
Artist

Victor De Wilde

  1903 - 1977 (biography)
Year
1936  
Technique
etching 
Image Size
7 3/8 x 8" platemark 
Signature
pencil, lower right 
Edition Size
not stated, presumed under 25 
Annotations
pencil titled, lower left, dated after signatue, lower right. 
Reference
 
Paper
cream laid 
State
published 
Publisher
artist 
Inventory ID
11377 
Price
SOLD
Description

Belgian born Victor De Wilde move to San Francisco in 1925 at age 22 where he attended both the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco and California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland. De Wilde was another artist who worked in the WPA in the 1030s, though not as a printmaker.

"De Werkvrouw" was done in 1936 and was titled both in Dutch and in English as "The Washerwoman". This impression may well have been printed for relatives or Dutch speaking friends. Given the date it was done it was likely to have been printed in a small number of proofs and never formally editioned.

Like Matisse and Picasso DeWilde is able to create a complete composition using just a line and foregoes almost all details or shading except for a little foul bite or sandpaper speckling. The woman sits, cleaning a floor with a cloth and pan of water.