Artwork
Breaking Flax
Breaking Flax is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jean François Millet. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Breaking Flax is a painting by Jean-François Millet, a French artist associated with the Barbizon school and the Realism movement, created around 1850.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman processing flax in a dimly lit room, emphasizing the dignity of manual labor and the daily existence of rural peasants.
Technique & Style
Millet used oil paint to create a somber atmosphere, characterized by muted colors and dim lighting, drawing attention to the woman's quiet industry.
Context
The work reflects the Realist movement's aim to portray life truthfully, focusing on the labor and daily tasks of 19th-century French farming communities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-François Millet (French pronunciation: ; 4 October 1814 – 20 January 1875) was a French painter and one of the founders of the Barbizon school in rural France.
