Twee boeren spitten de grond van een akker om

Twee boeren spitten de grond van een akker om is a powerful print created by Jean François Millet in 1856. Executed on paper, the artwork exemplifies the artist’s dedicated focus on the reality of agrarian life in 19th-century France. The composition centers on two men engaged in the arduous task of spading a field, their bodies bent under the physical effort required to turn the heavy earth. Millet’s commitment to documenting the dignity and toil of peasant life made him a foundational figure in the Realist movement, moving away from idealized pastoral traditions.

Though perhaps best known for major oil paintings like The Gleaners, Millet maintained an extensive practice in drawing and printmaking, which were crucial to developing his visual language. This specific piece, dated mid-career, demonstrates the artist’s characteristic use of simplified, weighty forms. The heavy contours and emphasis on volume ensure that the laborers themselves dominate the composition, conveying the ruggedness and sheer endurance required for manual work. The figures are placed centrally against the field, emphasizing their intimate connection to the land they cultivate.

As a precursor to modern Realism, Millet’s empathetic portrayal of the working poor revolutionized genre painting. This valuable print is held in the extensive collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it contributes significantly to the understanding of 19th-century French graphic arts. Due to the historical age of the work and its institutional holding, the piece is often considered part of the public domain, making reproductions of these significant historical prints accessible to students and art researchers globally.