The Spinner

The Spinner by Jean-François Millet, created in 1853, is a powerful example of the artist's focus on rural life and the dignity of labor. This particular work is classified as a print, meticulously executed as a woodcut on chine collé. This demanding technique involves printing the woodcut matrix onto a thin, delicate sheet of paper (chine) which is then adhered (collé) to a heavier, more stable backing sheet. This specialized method allowed Millet to achieve exceptionally rich blacks and subtle tonal variations, enhancing the somber, yet respectful, mood often associated with his depictions of working-class subjects.

The central focus is a solitary woman engaged in traditional domestic labor, hunched over her spinning wheel. Millet, a pivotal figure in 19th-century French Realism and the Barbizon School, consistently elevated the lives of the peasantry during a period of intense social and industrial change. Images emphasizing the essential, often arduous, work of women, specifically tasks like spinning, were central to his artistic mission. This focus on individual figures absorbed in their daily duties defines the distinctive power of Millet’s oeuvre.

As a crucial artifact illustrating mid-19th century printmaking and social documentation, this impression of The Spinner is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its historical and cultural significance, this celebrated example of Millet's prints is often available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to the master’s compelling interpretation of everyday French life.