Nurse seen from the Back. Verso: Seated Girl

Maurin's study focuses on a wet nurse or maternal assistant, seen from behind with her characteristic bonnet with long ribbons, seated on a Paris park bench with her charge in front of her; the child's ballooning dress is just visible. A second woman is seated facing the viewer and turned to the left. This study, which exploits the contrast between black and white chalk on blue paper, is related to Maurin's paintings and colored aquatints of women, children, and the nourrice, or nannies, that peopled the city's public parks during the day.