The Carder 1854

"The Carder" (1854) is a charcoal drawing by Jean-François Millet, a renowned artist of the Barbizon School. The piece portrays a woman carding wool, a laborious task central to the textile industry of the time. Millet's characteristic focus on the lives of rural workers is evident in the realistic depiction of the woman's seated posture and the simple tools of her trade. The drawing's muted tones and subtle shading create a sense of quiet contemplation, highlighting the individual and the rhythm of daily life.