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

This charcoal sketch, "Hilly Landscape, Laundress, and Other Studies" by Jean-François Millet, is a rapid, gestural study from the mid-1840s, characteristic of Millet's preparatory works. The composition features a woman bending over in a landscape setting. The sketch is notable for its loose, expressive lines and atmospheric quality. Millet is famous for his depictions of rural life, particularly peasant workers, which are often characterized by their realism and pathos.