Woman Emptying a Bucket

"Woman Emptying a Bucket" is a compelling print by Jean-François Millet, created between 1834 and 1875. This piece is executed as a woodcut on laid paper and represents the only known state of the image. Woodcuts, a technique relying on stark contrast and deep shadow, emphasize the gravity and solidity of the figure, aligning perfectly with the subject matter typically favored by Millet throughout his career.

The composition focuses intimately on a rural woman engaged in daily labor, specifically the difficult and unglamorous act of emptying a bucket. Millet, known for his commitment to depicting peasant life and the dignity inherent in physical work, frequently used such common, repetitive tasks to elevate his subjects. This intense focus on agricultural laborers and the realities of agrarian life placed Millet as a critical figure within the burgeoning Realist movement of 19th-century French art, contrasting sharply with the idealized academic styles prevalent at the time. The simple action of managing the heavy bucket highlights themes of domestic responsibility and persistent effort found throughout the artist’s graphic output.

As a significant example of the artist’s output in the print medium, the work is held in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The accessibility of such historical prints means that high-resolution reproductions of Millet’s powerful studies are often available through public domain archives, ensuring the continuation of scholarly appreciation for the nuances of his graphic technique.