Toil of the Ages: Medieval Peasantry at Work, 1847

About this sheet

The image depicts two medieval peasants, as indicated by the caption "Paysans," which is French for "Peasants".

The figure on the left is wearing a simple tunic with leggings and a red Phrygian-style cap, which was often associated with liberty and the common people in various periods of European history. He carries an axe over his shoulder and has a pouch attached to his belt, suggesting that he might be a woodsman or involved in some form of manual labor.

The figure on the right, also in modest attire, wears a cloak with a hood, possibly indicating a lower-class status or the necessity of work outdoors. He holds a spade, indicating agricultural work, which was the most common occupation for peasants during the Middle Ages.

Their clothes appear to be practical and robust, meant for work rather than display. The image captures the essence of the peasantry's daily life in the Middle Ages, which was marked by hard labor and simple living conditions.

The colors have a nice glow over them. Historically, egg whites, known as glair, and sometimes egg yolk were indeed used in illumination and painting, particularly in manuscripts, to give colors a brighter appearance and to add a sheen or gloss to the work. This technique was quite common during the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance.

Egg whites can be applied as a varnish over pigments to enhance their brightness and to protect the colors. This application could make the colors appear more vivid and also add a slight glossy sheen to the surface of the image.

Egg yolk, on the other hand, was commonly used as a binding agent in paint. It forms the basis of tempera paint, a medium that was widely used before the advent of oil painting. Egg yolk helps to create a durable and long-lasting color that adheres well to various surfaces.

In the context of the print from 1847, it's less likely that egg whites or yolks were used directly on the print, as by that time, commercial printing processes would have been more advanced and less reliant on such manual methods. However, if this print is a representation of an earlier style or is meant to mimic the appearance of hand-painted manuscripts, the original artists might have employed techniques or materials that gave a similar effect to those achieved with egg-based binders and varnishes.