I would like to introduce the painting, “The Knitter and the Seated Shepherdess”. It’s painted by Millet in about 1858 when he was 44 years old.

         Millet was born into a farmer’s family and showed great talent for painting. He loves the farm and the people. He went to Paris to study under Delaroche when he was nineteen years old and started to draw portraits and some naked women.  Because almost famous painter draw pleasant life paintings for nobles and the royal house.

After he saw Daumier’s painting about February Evolution, he turned to depict the social condition, the farm and the people with enthusiasm and painted the Winnower.

     He moved to Barbizon to start his farm painting life. He made friends with other painter there and they became associated with a Barbizon School that cares the nature, the field and the farm people.

    In this period of time, he made lots great paintings which includes “The Gleaner” “The Angelus” and “The Knitter and the Seated Shepherdess” as his works at that time.

    We can see from this painting: the shepherdess sat under the tree and knitted something. The tree looks like the entry of the forest. The fine streams of ink results in a vivid, pure color and exceptional details. The shepherdess is so concentrated that we can feel the silent and peaceful scene and you may want to take a nap in the shadow of the tree.

    To appreciate Millet’s painting, we could simply see from three points of view:

    First, his subject is closely related with the farm people and the natural scene. In this painting, he placed the shepherdess in the foreground and not made a noble or King to be a leading character of this painting.

    Second, he misted the background scene to broaden the space. This painting skill is influenced by Davinchi’s painting “Monolisa”. So we may feel that from the entry of forest, our vision could stretch very far away into the sky.

    Third, Millet likes to use the light behind the figure to illuminate the subject. He makes the light represent the belief to God.  The shadow means that the people bathed in the glow of great religion are humble.

    I think that the great religion and the modest people who live in the nature are the most important messages that Millet would like to deliver to all the viewers.

    I hope you enjoy this painting as much as I do. Thank you.