Shepherdess Knitting

"Shepherdess Knitting," created by Jean-François Millet in 1862, is an intimate yet monumental etching rendered in rich brown ink on wove paper. This deeply tonal print captures a solitary woman engaged in the domestic labor of knitting while tending her flock of sheep in a broad, open landscape. Millet executed this piece using the etching technique, carefully defining both the figure and the rugged natural setting through precise line work and hatching. The selection of brown ink lends the image a warm, deeply contemplative quality characteristic of his graphic works.

The subject matter aligns with Millet's enduring commitment to depicting the dignity of agricultural labor. During the mid-19th century, Millet, a key figure in the Barbizon School, often chose to elevate the common peasant, presenting the shepherdess not as a figure of romance, but of quiet industry and steadfast purpose. This composition emphasizes the continuous nature of work required of women in rural communities, where the management of livestock was paired with tasks like knitting, ensuring every moment was productive. The sheep rest placidly nearby, anchors in a quiet scene that merges necessary outdoor supervision with traditionally indoor crafts.

The technical clarity seen in this particular impression confirms its status as the only state of the print produced by the artist. Millet’s skill in using the etching needle to create varying textures is evident in the fuzzy outlines of the sheep and the softer modeling of the woman's shawl. This important example of 19th-century graphic work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a crucial document of Millet's output as a printmaker and his focused study of rural life.