Falling Leaves

Falling Leaves by Jean-François Millet is a significant drawing created between 1861 and 1871, executed primarily in pastel and conté crayon on wove paper. This mixed-media approach exemplifies the artist’s mature technique during a pivotal decade when he increasingly favored the expressive capabilities of colored chalks and crayons over traditional oil painting for capturing immediate sensory impressions.

As a central figure in 19th-century French art, Millet is widely recognized for his deeply empathetic portrayals of peasant life and rural landscapes during the period spanning 1851 to 1875. While much of his oeuvre focuses on agricultural labor, this work reflects a more abstract, atmospheric realism typical of his later career. The piece focuses purely on nature’s cycles, using light and color to evoke the transient beauty of the autumn season.

The combination of soft pastel colors and the dark, structural quality of the conté crayon allowed Millet to achieve a profound textural density. He captures the delicate, almost dizzying movement of leaves descending, suggesting a moment of observation rather than a highly finished study. The palette is dominated by earthen tones, ochres, and muted browns, enhancing the feeling of melancholy and stillness often associated with the changing seasons. This drawing classification foregrounds the artist's ability to manipulate dry media, creating effects that rival the complexity of oil paint.

The quality of this work confirms its importance within the artist’s late output. This masterful piece currently resides in the drawing collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the artwork’s historical significance and age, high-quality reproductions and prints of studies like this one are frequently available to scholars and the public through open access and public domain initiatives, ensuring continued access to the artistry of Millet.