Haystacks; Autumn c. 1874

Jean-François Millet painted ‘Haystacks; Autumn’ during a period of immense social change in France. With industrialization drawing people to urban centers, Millet chose to focus on the rural landscapes and the lives of peasants. In this painting, Millet doesn't just depict a pastoral scene; he offers a commentary on labor, class, and the rapidly changing French identity. The haystacks loom large, monumental even, but the shepherd and sheep seem to blend into the landscape. This reflects the artist's view of humanity's deep connection with the land. Millet himself came from a peasant family and once said, "I am a peasant and nothing but a peasant!". The painting invites us to reflect on the value of rural life and labor, and serves as a reminder of the human cost of progress. It asks, whose stories get told and whose labor is valued in a society undergoing radical transformation?