LADIES, this is a subject and a history lesson we love, that shows how language changes. This is a painting of men that are “scrapers” or “strippers.” Restoring floors in that fabulous Paris apartment in the 1870s.
“Scrapers” or “strippers,” were men that worked on floors. Many of the men worked shirtless, and sometimes in the nude if they were polishing marble. That job was technically called a “polisher.”
Gustave Caillebotte was a French painter and an Impressionist. He loved the genre and was a strong advocate. He was known for his early interest in photography as an art form, when others in the art world had a strong disdain for the new discipline.
His paintings actually have a certain amount of photo-realism to them and look like a camera was used. Many of his works can be seen in the Musée d’Orsay. For those planning a trip to Paris, get tickets and other information here: https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr
