Laundresses and Prostitutes, d’Orsay

Two exhibitions it would behoove you to see together:

At the musee d'Orsay in the 7th arrondissement

And the laundresses at the musee d'Annees Trente in Boulogne are joined at the hip not just in time and content but by the line RER C, making it a fairly easy run from the d'Orsay to get to Boulogne.

Starting off with the laundress exhibition

This is quite an extensive show

I didn't know laundry was often washed on the rocks under bridges..I guess in case of inclement weather.

The laundresses seem to be having a pretty good time.

Was it really the chatty party they show here

A collection of laundry graphics are superb

Especially for all the bluing products.

Baptismal documents are included in the displays. Baptism gowns, wedding gowns, and shrouds had to be scrubbed and washed to bright white.

The city of Boulogne was the laundry center for the town f Paris.

Laundry works abounded and showed up in early films.

Wonderful graphics of the lovely laundresses

A favorite shot of the whites drying outside on the line in Boulogne.

This print could easily cross-over to the d'Orsay's Splendeurs et Miseres exhibit.

This dance hall could have been there as well. Mentioned in the d'Orsay wall panels, laundresses, shop girls and seamstresses could barely scrape by on their low wages and were often forced to supplement their income by street walking or bordellos.

I missed the Press preview unfortunately so photos are limited but plenty of Toulouse Lautrec's on the walls. There are many bordello scenes. And portraits of 'Les Grandes Horizontals' Exhibition walls are painted appropriately deep Burgundy red. Even a messy antique bed is displayed to get you in the right mood.

You'll find many fine Manet portraits, including his 'Odalesque', throughout the show.

A rather forlorn Manet café-sitter nursing her absinthe. By the way sitting alone in a café or leaning against a lamppost was a sure sign a woman was available. More info in Elaine Sciolino's story on the d'Orsay show in the NYTimes.

Loved the d'Orsay's absinth glasses(just 7,50€) and the ox blood red Apilco porcelaine cups(26€). Why didn’t I buy a cup?

19th century top knots are all over Paris including Lanvin's Spring 2016 collection by the way. Put your hair up PBers. Don't bother looking in the mirror if you want the 'laundress/prostitute' look. For Gucci's 'nerdie-librarian' look add coke-bottle glasses and you're IN.