Artwork
The Potato Harvest
The Potato Harvest is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jean François Millet. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Potato Harvest is an oil painting on canvas executed in 1855 by French artist Jean‑François Millet. The work measures roughly the size typical of Millet’s mid‑career canvases and is part of the collection of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts rural laborers engaged in the gathering of potatoes, reflecting Millet’s long‑standing interest in the dignity of agricultural work and the rhythms of the countryside.
Technique & Style
Millet employs a muted palette and loose brushwork to convey the earthy tones of the field and the physicality of the harvest. The handling of light and shadow emphasizes the volume of the figures and the texture of the soil.
History & Provenance
After its completion in 1855, the painting entered the European art market before being acquired by the Walters Art Museum, where it remains on public display.
Own this work as a print
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.
