Gleaners c. 19th century

Curator: Jean-François Millet's etching, "Gleaners," shows three women working in a field. The image appears to have a strong focus on labor and the material conditions of rural life. Editor: The bent figures of the women instantly convey a sense of hardship, and the field stretches toward a distant harvest suggesting endless work. It evokes the biblical story of Ruth. Curator: Right, the print's texture, achieved through etching, mimics the roughness of the field. Millet clearly wants us to consider the labor embedded in the making of both the artwork and the harvest. Editor: Absolutely. The women's postures, their heads bowed, emphasize their connection to the earth, almost as if they are praying to it. This image feels like a secular form of devotion to labor. Curator: And consider how Millet’s choice of printmaking, a method that allows for reproduction, democratizes the image. He elevates this work by circulating these images to a wider audience. Editor: Seeing these figures as symbols of resilience and endurance, it shows the timeless cycle of sustenance. It leaves me contemplating the meaning of work and survival across different eras.