This is called “Woman Singing”, by Edgar Degas:
Francesca loves this. The woman singing with abandon, while her friend does the work!
Francesca is with her. It is wonderful to sing and be happy, and then enjoy the fruit of one’s friend’s labor. What could be better? ;-)
Well, that’s cute — looks like the reproduction merchant added his own title and interpretation to the work.
This is Les repasseuses (Women Ironing), one of Degas’s most famous images of laundresses (Musee d’Orsay, Paris: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/painting/commentaire_id/women-ironing-2236.html?tx_commentaire_pi1%5BpidLi%5D=509&tx_commentaire_pi1%5Bfrom%5D=841&cHash=e1121cba6c). The woman is usually seen as taking a break, yawning and stretching her aching back. Belting one out in the laundry does sound like fun, though.
Comment by Kathleen — July 31, 2008 @ 8:46 am
She’s singing because she got the wine!
Comment by Jennie — July 31, 2008 @ 9:31 am
I thought she was yawning…. sleepy after a hard days work, time to kick back with a bottle.
Comment by Megan — August 2, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
Actually, the other lady is mumbling about having to do all the work and she is blocking her ears and singing “lalalalalalala” between swigs.
Comment by Jennie — August 2, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
It is the famous “Laundress Yawning,” is it not? When did she start to sing? Trust me, the 19th century laundress had not much to sing about. Yawn, yes. Sing – no.
Comment by La BellaDonna — August 4, 2008 @ 10:31 am