The Old Home at Barbizon c. 1885 - 1890

Jean-François Millet made this drawing with pastel on paper to depict the realities of rural life in 19th-century France. Look closely, and you will see how the chalky texture of the pastel imbues the scene with a soft, almost dreamlike quality, yet the subject matter is anything but romanticized. The artist used layers of blended pastels to evoke the earthiness of the scene, from the rough stone wall to the yielding dirt beneath the figures' feet. There's also a deliberate contrast at play. The delicate medium contrasts sharply with the back-breaking labor it represents. Millet clearly understands the amount of work involved in the production process. The artist's technique invites us to contemplate the value of labor and the lives of those who work the land, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.