Les Éplucheurs - Alfred Philippe Roll

A detailed etching by Alfred Philippe Roll depicting five kitchen staff engaged in their daily work, published by Cadart and Luquet.

This etching, titled Les Éplucheurs, depicts a quiet, domestic scene within a professional kitchen. Five cooks are present: three are seated on simple stools, focused on the task of peeling vegetables, while two others stand behind them, observing the work. The composition relies on the contrast between the figures and the plain, textured background, which is rendered with fine, cross-hatched lines typical of the etching medium.

Alfred Philippe Roll, a French painter and printmaker, often turned his attention to the realities of everyday life. Unlike the idealised subjects common in academic art of the period, this work captures a mundane moment of labour. The figures are dressed in traditional kitchen attire, including aprons and caps, which provides a clear sense of their profession. The artist uses line weight to define the forms of the cooks and the simple wooden stools, creating a sense of volume without the need for complex shading.

The print was published by Cadart and Luquet, a firm known for supporting the revival of etching in France during the late nineteenth century. By promoting the work of artists who favoured direct observation, they helped shift the focus of printmaking toward more authentic, unvarnished representations of society. This piece is a fine example of that shift, offering a glimpse into the routine of kitchen staff. The lack of decorative elements ensures that the viewer remains focused on the figures and their collective activity. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, reflecting its status as a representative example of nineteenth-century French printmaking techniques and thematic interests.