Study for Woman Churning Butter 1855 - 1856

Jean-François Millet made this sketch, "Study for Woman Churning Butter," using black crayon to create the image. Millet lived through the 1848 Revolution in France, a time of upheaval and calls for social reform. This sketch gives us insight into the lives of rural women, who were often overlooked in the art world. Millet seemed interested in the realities of peasant life, capturing a scene of everyday labor. The woman is depicted mid-churn, her body language suggesting the physical exertion required to make butter by hand. A cat sits patiently by her feet, a small companion in her domestic sphere. While Millet's work has been praised for its realism, we can also see it as part of a broader cultural interest in idealizing rural life. It raises questions about how artists represent labor, gender, and class. We can also consider how our own perspectives shape the way we view this intimate scene.