Major McCollochs spring 1851

Jean-François Millet rendered this dynamic scene with graphite on paper. Millet's work often reflects a deep connection to rural life, and a sensitivity to the historical and social currents of his time. This drawing illustrates a historical narrative set against the backdrop of colonial encounters, depicting Major McColloch escaping Indigenous pursuers by leaping off a cliff with his horse. The scene is fraught with tension, capturing a moment where the power dynamics between colonizer and colonized are violently foregrounded. The drawing invites us to reflect on the narratives of heroism and conquest, and to consider whose stories are valorized and whose are erased. Millet does not simply recreate a moment of bravery, but also hints at the larger story of dispossession and resistance. It’s a poignant reminder of the human cost of territorial expansion, and the complex legacies that continue to shape our world.