Sketch of moving farmer 

Jean-François Millet sketched this moving farmer using charcoal on paper. With just a few, quickly applied strokes, Millet brings a sense of immediacy to the work. You can almost feel the farmer’s weariness as he trudges along. Charcoal, as a material, lends itself well to this kind of gestural drawing. It’s soft and easily smudged, allowing for quick shading and a sense of volume. But it’s also unforgiving – each mark is visible, a testament to the artist's hand. Millet was interested in portraying the dignity of labor, and in this sketch, you can see his respect for the farmer's toil. The amount of labor is not only embodied by the farmer, but also involved in the process of creating the artwork. The raw, unrefined nature of the sketch emphasizes the connection between the artist and his subject. The use of humble materials, like charcoal and paper, speaks to Millet's commitment to depicting the lives of ordinary people, elevating the everyday to the level of fine art.