Breton Peasant Woman 1880s

Here we see Aimé-Jules Dalou’s "Breton Peasant Woman", a 9 1/2-inch high sculpture currently residing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dalou rendered this work in clay. The most immediate and striking formal element is the raw, textured surface. The roughness of the clay speaks to an unfinished quality, a directness in the sculptural process that feels both modern and deeply connected to the earth. Her headdress, a prominent feature, is stylized with sweeping, simplified forms that frame a face marked by a quiet stoicism. Dalou here captures the essence of rural life. The artist’s approach reminds us of a broader artistic trend toward realism, a movement that sought truth in the everyday, unidealized realities of ordinary people. The weight and density of the clay serve not just as material fact, but as a signifier of the peasant woman’s enduring presence and resilience. This work invites us to consider how artistic form intersects with societal values, challenging us to see beauty and significance in the unvarnished textures of life.