Woman with a Rake 1856 - 1857

Jean-François Millet painted *Woman with a Rake* with oil on canvas during a time of significant social change in France. Millet uses traditional art materials to depict a rural scene, but with a focus on the laboring class. The thick application of paint emphasizes the woman's physical presence and the weight of her work. Millet captures the inherent qualities of the landscape – the texture of the earth, the density of the hay, and the weariness of the worker. The artist's focus on the repetitive motion of raking underlines the significance of her labor. Millet elevates the everyday tasks of rural life. He asks us to consider the social and cultural significance imbued in the artwork, through the detailed depiction of manual labor. By focusing on the dignity of work and the beauty of the natural world, Millet challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.