Explore the Subject and composition of this artwork.
Chardin's pigments are granular, his palette earthy, and his handling is thick. The light of the painting has been described as subdued, with nothing being sudden or jarring. There is a superficial reference to Hollandish kitchens, and this is done only with respect to the props and predominantly brown coloring. The primary object of the painting is a young kitchen maid on a low chair, looking to the right of the viewer during what appears to be a pause from her task. The expression on the maid's face is one that is neither of sadness nor one of joy; picturing a woman that is focused on her work. The pictorial space is bounded, with a quality of contentment and timelessness. On the floor are assorted vegetables, some cooking pots, and a butcher's block. The block features a meat-cleaver with a spat of blood, bringing in the suggestion of violence to the purposed domestic reflection.It is unknown whether Chardin had intended for there to be a message in the painting, or in any of his paintings. Despite portraying a servant helping in domestic tasks—described to be of a low social scale—the woman was still dressed well. In addition, the kitchen is kept in neat order; a sharp contrast to the portrayals of domestic servants in other paintings of the time. Nevertheless, the maid is still not a model of industry either, as the viewer in intended to speculate on what the maid is speculating in her moment of pause. It has been mentioned by critics that there is a sensuous quality in Chardin's execution, in design, and in the choice of his colors. The techniques of ambiguity and sense has been noted to be a common trait for many of Chardin's works.
maid butcher's block ambiguity