Lhermitte made his Salon debut at the age of twenty and established himself as a landscape artist with a particular sensitivity to nature. He is noted for helping to establish drawings as a major artistic expression.

This large-scale pastel drawing is a good example of Lhermitte’s proficiency with the medium. The work displays a delicate combination of earth tones, use of the natural tones of the paper, and jewel-like colors, which is typical of the artist. Known for his images of the working class, the theme of women washing clothes in a stream was a favorite of Lhermitte and appears in many of his works.