Hilly Landscape, Laundress, and Other Studies c. mid 1840s

Jean-François Millet made this drawing called "Hilly Landscape, Laundress, and Other Studies" using graphite. This sketch offers a glimpse into the social realities of 19th-century France. Millet was known for depicting rural life and the working class, a focus that aligned with the rise of social realism in art. Here, we see a laundress, a common subject reflecting the labor of women in French society. The rough, unfinished quality suggests a preparatory study, giving us insight into the artist's process. France during this period was undergoing significant social and economic changes, including industrialization and urbanization, which led to increased awareness of class divisions. Artists like Millet played a role in representing the lives of ordinary people, challenging the art establishment’s focus on historical or mythological subjects. To understand Millet's work better, it helps to explore the social history of France during the mid-1800s and to examine the rise of realist art. Art history relies on this kind of social and institutional context to enrich our understanding of works like this.