Women Carrying Baskets in Marseille

In Women Carrying Baskets in Marseille (1901) by Félix Vallotton, the artist captures a scene of daily labor in an urban setting, focusing on two women walking down a narrow, shadowed street while balancing large baskets on their heads. The strong vertical lines of the surrounding buildings enhance the height of the baskets, drawing the viewer's attention to the figures at the center of the composition. Light streams from the background, illuminating parts of the street and casting deep shadows on the cobblestones. The women's brightly colored clothing—one wearing a red scarf, the other in a patterned blouse—stands in contrast to the otherwise muted tones of the cityscape. Vallotton’s use of light and shadow, along with the dynamic posture of the women, conveys both the physicality of their work and the rhythmic nature of the bustling urban environment in Marseille.