Man with a Spade c. 1855 - 1858

Jean-François Millet made this drawing using graphite on paper. It looks like an initial sketch for a larger work. The humble materials are significant, chosen to capture a laborer's dignity. See how Millet uses soft, smudged lines to convey the weight of the figure, leaning on his spade? The repetitive, physical labor is implied by the way the worker's body seems molded by his work. He almost becomes one with the very tool he uses, and with the earth itself. Millet wasn't alone in focusing on rural subjects, but his choice of drawing, rather than painting, combined with his acute observation, lends authenticity to the image. There's nothing romanticized here. The sketch is not only art, but also a stark visual record of labor. The raw material, graphite, and the labor it represents, forces us to confront the social realities of Millet's time, bridging the gap between high art and the everyday experiences of the working class.