Peasant with a Wheelbarrow

"Peasant with a Wheelbarrow" is a seminal print created by Jean François Millet in 1855, executed with collaboration from the master printer Auguste Delâtre. This work encapsulates Millet’s dedication to portraying the realities of rural existence, aligning him centrally within the French Realist movement of the mid-nineteenth century.

The composition utilizes the demanding intaglio techniques of etching and drypoint, producing rich, variable lines. This detailed texture is enhanced by the choice of support material: ivory wove China paper, which was subsequently hinged on two sides to a heavier cream wove card. The combination of etching for crisp outlines and the velvety burr of the drypoint technique lends the figure a tangible presence, emphasizing the physical effort required for the labor depicted.

Typical of Millet’s output, the subject focuses on an anonymous peasant engaged in arduous, everyday work. The artist avoids sentimentalizing the figure, presenting instead a solemn study of dignity and effort central to French agrarian life during the period. While Millet is best known for his oil paintings, his prints are equally crucial to understanding his oeuvre, allowing him to explore subtle shifts in light and shadow essential for modeling the working body.

Classified as a print, this piece resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, underscoring its historical importance in nineteenth-century graphic arts. Given its age and the date of creation, the work is frequently digitized and utilized in educational programs globally, often falling within the category of public domain art, thereby ensuring widespread access to Millet’s enduring legacy.