Spinner from the Auvergne 1830 - 1899

"Spinner from the Auvergne" is a pen-and-ink drawing on paper by Jean-François Millet, a renowned French artist known for his depictions of rural life. The artwork portrays a woman spinning wool with a distaff, a traditional tool used for spinning, while standing in a field with sheep. The artist's signature, "FM", is visible in the lower left corner. This drawing, created between 1830 and 1899, exemplifies Millet's interest in capturing the lives and labor of ordinary people, a theme that would define his later masterpieces, such as "The Gleaners" and "The Angelus". The drawing, which is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers a glimpse into the daily routines and simple beauty of rural France during the 19th century.