Woman Churning Butter

Woman Churning Butter is an evocative etching created by Jean-François Millet between 1855 and 1856. This print is known to exist in three states, with the impression held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art representing the third, final state. Although highly regarded for his oil paintings of agricultural laborers, Jean-François Millet dedicated substantial effort to the medium of printmaking, viewing etchings as a crucial means of disseminating his themes of rural French life to a wider audience. The dense crosshatching and dramatic use of shadow in this work demonstrate the artist’s mastery of the technical demands of the etching process.

In this intimate scene, Millet captures a woman absorbed in the daily chore of making butter. She is shown bent forward, completely focused on the strenuous action of working the churn. The environment is dark and humble, emphasizing the challenging conditions of nineteenth-century peasant dwellings. This subject matter aligns perfectly with Millet’s characteristic commitment to the Realist movement, representing the dignity of the working class without romantic embellishment.

An important detail that grounds the scene in domestic realism is the small presence of a cat resting at the woman’s feet. This inclusion of animals and common household items adds authenticity and warmth to the dimly lit interior. The enduring popularity of Millet’s depictions of working women ensures that prints of this nature remain significant objects for study. Today, the work is part of the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and high-resolution reproductions of this powerful etching are often available through public domain initiatives.