Laitière

Laitière is a French noun referring to a woman who works in dairy farming, i.e., a milkmaid. The term derives from lait (milk) and the feminine agent suffix -ière. Historically, laitieres worked on farms or in dairies, milking cows, handling milk, churning dairy products, and distributing milk to households or markets. In rural Europe, milkmaids formed a recognizable part of the agricultural economy from the medieval period through the 19th century, and they feature in folklore and literature.

In art and culture, the phrase La Laitière is most widely associated with depictions of milkmaids. The best-known example is The Milkmaid (La Laitière) by the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, created circa 1658–1660, now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The image is celebrated for its use of light and domestic detail and has inspired numerous imitators and interpretations.

In contemporary French usage, laitière primarily appears in historical or literary contexts. The masculine form laitier denotes a male dairy worker. While the occupation remains a historical or descriptive reference, modern terminology for dairy work tends to use more specific job titles such as ouvrier laitier or producteur laitier, depending on the context.

See also: La Laitière.