Peasant with a Wheelbarrow

"Peasant with a Wheelbarrow," created by Jean François Millet and printed by Auguste Delâtre in 1855, is a masterful example of 19th-century French graphic arts. Executed through the demanding techniques of etching and drypoint on delicate cream Japanese paper, this work showcases Millet’s sensitive draftsmanship combined with Delâtre’s technical skill as a renowned printer of the period. The use of drypoint provides rich, velvety burr around the lines, contrasting with the fine clarity of the etching process, lending the image a tactile immediacy and depth.

Millet was a key figure in the Barbizon School, known for his commitment to depicting the dignity and labor of rural life, a thematic departure from the academic traditions dominating French art at the time. This particular print centers on a lone laborer, positioned centrally and stoically pushing a wheelbarrow. The piece reflects the artist's lifelong dedication to the realism movement, focusing attention on the often-overlooked working class in France during a period of significant social change. Such depictions, which highlighted the daily toil of agricultural workers, were often controversial but profoundly influential on later generations of European artists.

While Millet is primarily known for his seminal oil paintings, he made substantial contributions to the field of fine art prints. This detailed work, representative of the artist’s commitment to capturing authentic peasant life, is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as an important reference for the artist's printmaking output. Like many historical works of this era, high-resolution images of this print are increasingly available for educational use in the public domain.