Woman with a Churn 1854

Jean-François Millet made this drawing of a woman with a churn using graphite on paper. The visible texture of the paper gives the drawing a soft, slightly blurred effect, emphasizing the mundane and laborious aspects of rural life. Graphite, as a medium, is immediate and accessible, allowing for quick sketches and studies. The artist has focused on capturing the essence of the woman's work, emphasizing the weight and physicality of the churn, which is a vessel and tool made from wood or ceramic. Millet highlights the connection between the woman, her tools, and her labor by portraying this traditional process of butter making, which is an image of self-sufficiency and skill. The drawing is a social commentary on labor, gender, and rural life, elevating the everyday tasks of working-class women. By focusing on the material realities of labor, Millet challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to reflect on the social and cultural significance embedded in the making and use of everyday objects.