Artwork
Woman Spinning
Woman Spinning is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jean François Millet. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Clark Art Institute.
About this work
Overview
Woman Spinning is a 1857 oil painting by French artist Jean-François Millet, a key figure in the Barbizon school and the Realism movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a peasant woman spinning yarn, surrounded by the simple furnishings of her home. The scene conveys the quiet dignity of everyday labor and reflects Millet's interest in depicting rural life with accuracy and empathy.
Technique & Style
Millet's use of oil paint allows for a detailed and realistic representation of the subject. The composition is characterized by a sense of stillness and simplicity, with the woman's activity and the domestic surroundings rendered in a straightforward and unidealized manner.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held at the Clark Art Institute, a testament to its enduring significance as a representation of 19th-century rural life.
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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.
