Mahonri M. Young (1877-1957),
Washer Woman, 20th century, 14 x 15 3/4 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchase/gift of Mahonri M. Young Estate, 1959.
Obviously a European scene, this painting was probably done while in Italy in 1948-49 when friends often took Young on day trips. He described one such day when they drove into the Sabine Hills and the Apennines: 'Without seeming to cross a divide of any perceptible height, we came to another village with the water flowing the other way. We had been told there were some wonderful falls in this village. We finally found ourselves approaching them. An old woman was washing her feet in a stream. Across the path, a younger woman was washing clothes in a fine outdoors laundry with plenty of water.'