Peasants Going to Work

Peasants Going to Work is a powerful 1863 print by Jean-François Millet, an artist renowned for his unflinching portrayals of rural life. This compelling impression, executed as an etching in brown ink on laid paper, represents the seventh and definitive state of the composition. Millet, a key figure in the Barbizon School, often turned to graphic arts as a means of exploring light and human form, continuously refining his copper plates through multiple states to achieve the precise tonal richness and atmospheric qualities visible here.

The print focuses on the burdened figures of a man and a woman moving silently into the fields, defined by the stark silhouette created by the light of dawn. Millet imbued these working men and women with a monumental quality, transforming their arduous routine into a subject of dignified contemplation. Unlike many contemporaries, Millet rejected idealized pastoral views, opting instead to present the peasantry as the genuine foundation of French society. This work captures the essential dignity and fatigue inherent in agricultural life, elevating the everyday toil to the level of high art.

Millet’s commitment to this subject matter made him both celebrated and controversial during his lifetime, cementing his place as a pioneer of realism. Due to its age and historical importance, this work, alongside many of the artist’s famous prints, is now frequently accessible through public domain initiatives, ensuring its continued study and appreciation globally. This essential piece of 19th-century realism is housed in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.