Woodland Clearing c. 1850 - 1855

Jean-François Millet made this drawing with graphite on paper at an unknown date. It gives us a glimpse into the French countryside. Millet was a co-founder of the Barbizon School which was located in the forest of Fontainebleau, France. This landscape drawing connects to its wider social and cultural context because Millet was known for depicting peasant farmers and rural scenes. The image creates meaning through visual codes of landscape and nature. It suggests themes of simplicity and an appreciation for the natural world. The drawing might reflect the social and political sentiments of the time which idealized rural life as a contrast to urban industrialization. Historical resources like letters, journals, and biographies of Millet provide insight into the social conditions that shaped his artistic production. These sources, in addition to exhibition reviews and sales records, can reflect the meaning of art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.