Artwork
The Sower
The Sower is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jean François Millet. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
The Sower is a painting executed in oil by French artist Jean-François Millet in 1850. It represents one iteration of a recurring thematic preoccupation for the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a lone figure, dressed in practical attire, engaged in the mundane yet essential act of sowing seeds. The scene emphasizes the quiet, unromanticized labor of planting, devoid of dramatic elements, focusing instead on the worker's concentration.
Technique & Style
Characterized by thick, expressive brushstrokes, particularly evident in the rendering of the figure's shirt and the earthy terrain, the painting showcases Millet's use of impasto, a technique where paint is applied in thick layers to achieve a textured effect.
History & Provenance
The Sower has been part of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston's collection since its acquisition in 1917.
Context
Created during a period when the French peasantry was a subject of both social concern and artistic fascination, The Sower reflects Millet's interest in depicting the everyday lives and labors of rural workers.
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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.
