The Sewer

"The Sewer," created by Jean-François Millet in 1855, is a powerful example of 19th-century graphic arts and the artist's dedication to depicting the harsh realities of working life. This print, classified as the third state of three, utilizes etching in rich brown-black ink upon laid paper. Millet was primarily known for his sympathetic engagement with peasant life, a visual philosophy that placed him at the forefront of the French Realist movement.

The composition centers on women engaged in arduous labor, likely cleaning or maintaining a drainage canal or urban sewer. Set within a dark, utilitarian environment, the female figures are positioned dynamically, emphasizing the physical demands of their work. Millet consistently elevated common laborers to the status of compelling subjects, treating the effort and dedication inherent in manual labor with profound dignity. This focus on the Working class, and specifically Women undertaking tasks often ignored by academic painters, was a defining characteristic of his career.

This rare impression of The Sewer is part of the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Millet’s prolific output extended beyond oil painting; he recognized prints as a crucial method for disseminating his work, allowing viewers wider access to his themes of rural and urban hardship. His precise control over the etching needle, visible in the textural details of the stone and water, confirms his mastery as a printmaker. Today, impressions of influential prints by Realist masters such as Millet are sometimes made available within the public domain, ensuring his enduring commentary on labor remains accessible to contemporary audiences and researchers.