The Tinsmith

American artists came to Brittany to paint en plein air and in search of realism. Here, they explored a living peasant culture that, to them, seemed exotic. After Wylie’s death in 1877, the American artists could no longer benefit from his guidance, but they continued to work together and critique each other’s work. At the time, their focus was on the effects of light. Nicholls, like many American artists of the time, was interested in portraying figures in full sun. In this painting, the play of light and shadow—particularly that of the vegetation darkening the facade of the house—sets off the figures, which are bathed in light. The scene from daily life depicts a tinsmith at his work, which consisted of making and repairing metal utensils. A young girl in traditional clothing stands observing him