Curatorial notes
Jean-François Millet rendered "Open Air Oven" using graphite. His art often reflects his profound connection to rural life and peasant communities. Here, Millet directs our attention to the lives of the working class. The oven isn't merely an object; it's a symbol of sustenance and communal gathering. In 19th-century France, access to such an oven would be deeply intertwined with class and gender. Women were primarily responsible for baking, making their roles central to the community's survival. Millet elevates this daily labor, imbuing it with dignity, in stark contrast to the romanticized visions of rural life often presented by his contemporaries. Millet once said, “I am a peasant, nothing more than a peasant.” His art invites us to contemplate the intersections of labor, identity, and class, offering a window into the lives of those whose stories often go untold.