13. Gathering the Harvest 1909

Francis Davis Millet made '13. Gathering the Harvest' with, well, I'm not totally sure but likely paint, and it’s got this real straightforward way of putting things down, almost like a sketch, but with a lot of confidence in its shapes. The thing that gets me is how the figures are built with these solid blocks of color. Like, the red of the one guy's shirt just pops right out, doesn't it? And the way he's bending, you can practically feel the weight of the harvest in that basket. It's like Millet's saying, 'Here's the deal, folks are working hard, and this is what it looks like.' You know, it's got a little bit of that Grant Wood thing going on, that American scene kind of vibe. Both artists share this quality of celebrating everyday life, but Millet does it with a bit more simplicity, a real focus on the shapes and the feel of the work. There's nothing hidden or overly complicated. Art doesn't have to be a puzzle, it can be right there in the field with you.