Brushwood collectors 

Jean-François Millet’s "Brushwood Collectors," now in the Pushkin Museum, is an oil painting that uses traditional materials to depict the back-breaking labour of rural life. Millet’s earthy palette, applied with visible brushstrokes, emphasizes the weight and texture of the brushwood. The figures, rendered with a somber dignity, are deeply enmeshed with the forest. They’re shown gathering fallen branches, a task demanding physical strength and resilience. It’s a scene of necessity, far removed from idealized pastoral landscapes. Millet invites us to consider the social context of this work. Brushwood collecting was a means of survival for the poor, and this painting acknowledges their constant toil. It is a vital counterpoint to romantic visions of nature and rural existence, reminding us of the labor and class dimensions inherent in our relationship with the natural world. By appreciating the material reality depicted, we understand the full significance of Millet's canvas.