Woman Churning Butter 1855 - 1856

This is Jean-François Millet’s etching, “Woman Churning Butter”. The image depicts a woman performing a domestic task, with a cat nearby. Made in France, most likely in the mid-19th century, this etching offers insight into the changing social and economic structures of rural France. Millet was known for his sympathetic depictions of rural laborers, which often carried a subtle critique of the urban, industrializing world. In this artwork, the action of churning butter is isolated, and we can understand it as a comment on the value of labor. We might look at how academic art of the time tended to focus on classical or historical subjects, thereby marginalizing the everyday lives of ordinary people. Here, the artist gives dignity to this common subject. To truly understand Millet's work, one can delve into the writings of social critics like Proudhon, the history of French agriculture, and the institutional context of the French Salon. By doing so, we gain a richer appreciation for the complex social dialogues taking place within works of art.