Seated Shepherdess 1830 - 1875

Jean-François Millet created this block print of a Seated Shepherdess in France sometime in the mid-19th century. As part of the Realist movement, Millet aimed to depict rural life with an honest, unsentimental eye, showing the dignity and hardship of peasant labor. Here, the shepherdess sits watchfully as her flock grazes. The print is made up of a series of lines; the cross-hatching used to create tonal variations and shadowing on the shepherdess’ cloak give the image weight and definition. Millet was active during a time of great social upheaval with the rise of industrialization threatening traditional agricultural life. His work can be seen as both a celebration and a lament for a vanishing way of life. To fully understand Millet's artistic choices, we look to the social and economic conditions of 19th-century France. Examining sources like agricultural reports, political pamphlets, and even literature of the time can reveal the complex relationship between art and society. Art history reminds us that the meaning of art is always tied to its context.