Waiting 1854

Sir John Everett Millais painted "Waiting" with oil on canvas. The visible brushwork creates an image where materiality is critical. See how the textured strokes define the sitter’s dress, and the roughness of the stone walls. Millais' choice of oil paint allowed him to blend colors smoothly, capturing the ambient light of the pastoral scene. The careful rendering of the stone wall gives it the appearance of something made with considerable labor, with the wooden gate another marker of human craft. The painting represents a quiet moment removed from the bustling industry of Britain at this time. Yet, in its attention to detail and precise execution, it also reveals the values of labor, skill, and material knowledge that underpinned that society. Ultimately, "Waiting" compels us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and the ways we find value in both natural and crafted environments.