Return from the Wash House (Retour de lavoir)

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a group of three women depicted from the waist up. They are leaning forward and carrying a large cloth bundle or sack together. The central woman faces left, with sharp facial features and short hair styled back. She wears a checked blouse. The woman on the right has soft facial features, hair in a bun, and wears a plain blouse. A third woman in the background has indistinct features and dark hair. The setting is urban, with a street and building facades. The background has beige tones, giving a sepia effect.