Sheepshearing Beneath a Tree c. 1854

Curator: This is Jean-Francois Millet’s "Sheepshearing Beneath a Tree," circa 1854, executed in pencil. Editor: There’s such a hushed stillness about this. It feels both intimate and monumental. I mean, look at the textures, the almost sculptural quality achieved with simple pencil strokes. You can practically feel the wool. Curator: Absolutely, the materiality is key. Consider the labor embedded within this drawing: not just the act of rendering, but the very subject matter—the demanding, physical labor of sheepshearing. It elevates a quotidian rural activity. Editor: Right! And isn’t it interesting that he doesn’t shy away from showing the… messiness of it all? The sheep aren’t idealized. They’re chunky and real, their fleece looks greasy. It makes me think of that visceral connection we have to animals and where our resources actually come from, not romanticized like in a painting on a parlor wall, more of an honest attempt to come to grips with reality. Curator: That’s precisely it. Millet was pushing against the academic grain by centering these laborers, these essential workers, in his art. He draws attention to those involved in creating the raw materials that fuel textile production. The clothing on your back begins here, at this barrel. Editor: I also can’t help but get a little anxious seeing them wrestle the sheep, although they appear as experts that repeat these movements on a daily basis... Are they kind? Is this the most gentle process possible for everyone involved? Art, to me, can and should lead to real conversations, beyond the art itself! It should make you think, worry and even make you reconsider certain values. Curator: Certainly, art isn't divorced from our wider lives and moral considerations, but as far as Millet is concerned, his depictions sought to bring visibility to working class efforts, something frequently omitted from mainstream culture. His careful studies of composition with such readily available material is compelling in itself! Editor: Looking again, the shadow of the tree adds a beautiful touch of contemplative solemnity. Well, that's a good nudge. Thanks for shedding light. Curator: And thank you for offering your personal take. Art demands it.