First Steps, after Millet

First Steps, after Millet is an oil on canvas painting created by Vincent van Gogh in 1890. This significant late work was executed during the final months of Gogh's life while he was institutionalized at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The piece is one of over twenty works the artist painted based on compositions by Jean-François Millet, an artist whom Gogh deeply admired for his empathetic depictions of rural labor and peasant life. This specific composition is a direct interpretation of Millet’s 1858 drawing, transforming the original monochrome study into a characteristic Post-Impressionist vision.

The painting captures a tender domestic scene set within a sun-drenched garden. A man, likely the father, is shown supporting a small child who is attempting their titular first steps across the dirt path towards a waiting woman, presumably the mother. The subject matter emphasizes a universal moment of familial support and early childhood development. The figures of the Men and Women are rendered with thick, expressive outlines characteristic of Gogh’s style in this period.

The technique employs the artist's signature vibrant, structured brushwork, particularly noticeable in the surrounding greenery and the contrasting light of the sky. Gogh utilizes a palette dominated by complementary colors, primarily blues and vivid yellows, which lend the canvas a warmth and dynamic energy not present in Millet's original drawing. Although it is a copy, the emotional handling and saturated color palette are entirely the artist's own, transforming Millet’s sober theme into a powerful expression of domestic intimacy involving the Children. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this masterful work, where it serves as a crucial example of Gogh's final artistic explorations. As a historically important piece from 1890, high-quality prints and reproductions of this iconic painting are frequently sought by collectors worldwide, reflecting its enduring appeal within the public domain.