Going to Work 1851 - 1853

"Going to Work" (1851-1853) by Jean-François Millet depicts a peasant couple walking along a path toward the horizon. The man, carrying a pitchfork, leads the way while the woman, cloaked in a shawl, follows behind. Millet's painting is a poignant portrayal of the daily struggles of rural life in 19th-century France, known for its Realist style that focused on the lives of ordinary people. The somber palette and the figures' stoic expressions convey a sense of hardship and resignation, highlighting the difficult realities of peasant life.