Winter (The Plain of Chailly) c. 1864

Editor: So, this is Jean-François Millet's "Winter (The Plain of Chailly)." It's undated, but the medium is pastel and black chalk on paper. It's a desolate scene, and I'm struck by the texture he achieves. What do you make of it? Curator: The textured surface speaks volumes. Notice how Millet uses these materials to depict the materiality of the land itself, the dirt and implements of agricultural labor. The social context of rural life is embedded in the very substance of the artwork. Editor: That's fascinating. So, the materials themselves tell a story about labor? Curator: Precisely! The chalk and pastel aren't just representing the scene; they are, in their own way, enacting the work, the dust, and the grit of the land. Consider the process of creating this work. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks, I'll definitely be thinking about materiality more closely now. Curator: My pleasure. It is important to think about the means of production.