A Sheep Grazing

A Sheep Grazing is a significant print created in 1849 by the celebrated French artist Jean François Millet. This collaborative work features the technical execution of master printer Auguste Delâtre, and notably bears the signature of fellow artist Charles Émile Jacque, reflecting the cooperative spirit common among leading printmakers in mid-19th century France. Millet utilized a combination of sophisticated intaglio techniques including etching, drypoint, and roulette on ivory laid paper to capture the texture and intimate atmosphere of the scene. The subtle variations in line work demonstrate the artist’s commitment to naturalism and evocative rendering.

As a crucial figure associated with the burgeoning Realist movement, Millet often focused his oeuvre on empathetic scenes of pastoral labor and animal life. This specific print shares the nuanced observation found in his more famous compositions, capturing a moment of profound quietude. The subject, a lone sheep intently focused on its fodder, grounds the viewer in the solitude of the agrarian world. The detailed rendering emphasizes the animal’s presence over the generalized landscape, a signature of Millet’s focus on rural authenticity. Residing today in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this important work serves as an essential example of French printmaking during the period. Given its historical status, high-quality images of this piece are frequently found within the public domain, allowing broad scholarly access to this early example of Millet’s graphic output.