The Gleaners

"The Gleaners," created between 1855 and 1856 by the French artist Jean François Millet (1814-1875), is a pivotal work of 19th-century Realism. This print, executed as an etching and drypoint, captures the essential narrative of the subject matter that Millet would soon perfect in his celebrated oil painting of 1857. The technical aspects of this specific print involve a delicate rendering on ivory chine laid down on ivory wove paper, a process expertly overseen by the renowned master printer Auguste Delâtre (1822-1907).

Millet repeatedly explored the difficult life of the rural poor in France. The three women depicted in The Gleaners are engaged in gleaning, a historic practice permitted by custom where the lowest strata of society were allowed to salvage remaining scraps of grain after the primary harvest. This unflinching depiction of unromanticized physical labor was considered highly controversial and politically charged when first presented, elevating the everyday struggles of the peasantry to the status of high art.

As a significant example of 19th-century French prints, this work demonstrates Millet’s mastery of the graphic arts, translating the monumental gravity of his compositions into the sensitive line work afforded by etching and drypoint. The piece offers profound insight into the social consciousness driving French Realism during this period. The work is preserved within the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, and due to its historical importance, high-quality images of this masterpiece are often available through public domain art initiatives.