A Seated Shepherd with His Dog and Sheep

Jean-François Millet’s A Seated Shepherd with His Dog and Sheep is a powerful graphite study that exemplifies the artist’s lifelong dedication to chronicling the lives of rural French laborers. Executed in Conté crayon on wove paper, this technique allowed Millet to achieve remarkable tonal depth and texture, imbuing the drawing with a presence often reserved for finished oil paintings. The wide date range of 1830-1875 encompasses the artist’s most prolific period, during which he became a crucial figure in the Barbizon School, celebrating the dignity of everyday peasant existence.

The drawing depicts a shepherd in a moment of quiet contemplation, seated low to the ground with his crook nearby. The figure is flanked by his animals; a vigilant dog is positioned close by, providing security, while the sheep huddle around him in soft, rounded masses. Millet was particularly skilled at capturing the bond between the laborer and his environment, turning the simple act of rest into a timeless meditation on rural life.

This focused work emphasizes the essential elements of pastoral guardianship. The dark, heavily worked lines define the central figures while the surrounding details are suggested with swift, atmospheric strokes, demonstrating the artist’s fluency with the medium. This 19th-century drawing is an important piece within Millet's oeuvre, showing his evolving technique and enduring interest in agricultural subjects. It resides today in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a testament to the enduring appeal of this master of French realism.