La Gouvernante

Bernard Lépicié after Jean Siméon Chardin

National Gallery of Art

The print shows two individuals, an adult woman and a child, in an indoor setting. The woman is sitting on a chair, leaning slightly forward, looking at the child on the right. She is wearing a wide dress with a white apron, and her hair is tucked into a white cap. She has a neutral expression, and her hands are in her lap, holding a black tricorn hat in one hand and a wide brush in the other hand. The child is standing in front of the woman, holding a bundle of books under their arm. They have long dark hair tied with a ribbon and wear a knee-length dress with large buttons. They have their hands clasped in front of them and are looking down at the ground. The room has a simple background, with wooden flooring and a plain wall with a partially open door behind the child. On the right side, the edge of a desk is visible. On the floor in front of the people, there is a racket and a shuttlecock, playing cards, and an open basket.