The Normandy Milkmaid c. 1848 - 1849

"The Normandy Milkmaid" is an oil painting by Jean-François Millet, completed between 1848 and 1849. It depicts a woman carrying a large pot of milk on her shoulder, walking in a rural setting. The painting is executed in a dark, somber palette, emphasizing the figure's silhouette against the muted background. This style, characteristic of Millet's early works, reflects his interest in depicting the daily lives of ordinary people, especially those engaged in manual labor. The painting's subject matter and composition foreshadow his later, more celebrated works like "The Gleaners" and "The Angelus," which further solidified his status as a pioneer of the Realist movement.