Washerwomen Sharing the News in an Italian Village Tissue Paper

This design features a painting by the Italian artist Eugene de Blaas (1843–1931). It shows two women: one woman is stood against a brick wall with a note in her hand and she is excitedly sharing the news that it contains to another woman, who is leaning over a wooden washing tub, cleaning clothes. Both women are wearing beautifully elegant clothes, long dresses with low-cut cleavage. The two women are smiling happily at each other as they chat. Perhaps the woman who has the news is announcing a marriage or engagement. It's a beautiful scene of traditional life in an old Italian village.