These Washerwomen are part of a series of scenes of everyday Roman life that Fragonard liked to paint during his lengthy sojourn in Italy (1756-1761). The glow from a fire surrounded by a bustling group of people reveals an ancient, deep cavern. On a podium, a woman in a yellow skirt hangs a heavy white sheet on an antique column. Below, next to a black dog, a toddler dressed in red is sitting astride a grey donkey. The warm colours executed with loose, vigorous brushwork and the constructive use of light provide a cheerful note in the dark depths.