Artwork Page for Peasant Returning from the Manure Heap

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Peasant Returning from the Manure Heap

1855–56

Jean-François Millet

(French, 1814–1875)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
etching
Measurements
Plate: 16.2 x 13.2 cm (6 3/8 x 5 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Ralph King 1921.991
Catalogue raisonné
Delteil 11 ; Beraldi 12
State
D. III/IV
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Millet moved from Paris to the nearby village of Barbizon in 1849 in search of rustic subject matter. The group of painters working in the countryside surrounding the Forest of Fontainebleau frequently painted out-of-doors in order to create fresh and accurate views of nature. While most of the Barbizon artists focused primarily on landscape, Millet also represented peasants. His works celebrate the nobility and dignity of people living close to the soil, symbols of the stability and continuity lacking in modern life
A vertically oriented etching in black ink on beige paper depicts a man in a wide-brimmed hat and jacket walking toward our left. Facing away, he carries a low wooden frame filled with straw, his right leg extending behind him on the uneven ground. To our left stands a stone building with a thatched roof and a dark opening. Dense cross-hatching creates deep shadows and textures across the rural scene.

Peasant Returning from the Manure Heap

1855–56

Jean-François Millet

(French, 1814–1875)
France, 19th century

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