The artwork titled “The Parquet Planers” is an oil on canvas painting by Gustave Caillebotte completed in 1876. It is representative of the Impressionist movement and falls under the genre painting category. Measuring 80 by 100 cm, this artwork presently resides in a private collection.
The painting depicts two craftsmen engaged in the laborious task of planing a wooden floor. The scene is set in an interior space with natural light casting shadows and illuminating parts of the parquet, demonstrating Caillebotte’s skill in rendering the effects of light on surfaces. The men are captured in a moment of intense physical work, one seated and the other bending forward, with great attention paid to the musculature and movement of their bodies, a testament to the artist’s keen observation and realistic portrayal. The meticulous detail in the wood shavings and the floorboards further contribute to the palpable sense of atmosphere and authenticity within the artwork. Caillebotte’s work often explored the theme of urban life and the changing cityscape of Paris, and in this instance, he has chosen to focus on the manual labor that underpinned the city’s transformation during his era.
