Woman Feeding Her Child

The intimate scene of Woman Feeding Her Child was created in 1861 by renowned French artist Jean François Millet (1814-1875). This work is classified as a print, executed using the demanding techniques of etching and drypoint on cream laid paper. Millet collaborated closely with master printmakers Auguste Delâtre and Félix Henri Bracquemond to realize the rich tonal qualities and delicate lines inherent in this rural domestic subject matter. The complex process, which combines the controlled corrosion of etching with the velvety burr of drypoint, allowed for a nuanced exploration of light and shadow, characteristic of the French Realist movement.

Reflecting the dominant artistic concerns of 19th-century France, Millet focused heavily on the lives of peasants and the rural working class. Unlike his larger, more famously known paintings, this small-scale print captures a tender, everyday moment of maternity and familial devotion, elevating the simple act of a mother spoon-feeding her child to a subject worthy of high artistic consideration. Millet’s characteristic approach treats his figures with quiet dignity and solemnity, emphasizing timeless human bonds rather than overtly political commentary on poverty. This piece reinforces his legacy as a leading proponent of artistic Realism.

As a fine example of mid-19th-century prints and draftsmanship, the textured surface imparted by the drypoint needle provides significant depth to the figures and their humble surroundings. The work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As this culturally significant image has passed into the public domain, it remains widely studied as a key document of the enduring graphic arts tradition in France.