Lecture Notes: Analysis of Jean-Francois Millet's "The Gleaners" (1857)
Introduction
- Painting: "The Gleaners"
- Artist: Jean-Francois Millet
- Year: 1857
- Location: Musee d'Orsay
Visual Characteristics
- Color Palette:
- Brushwork:
- No hard lines, loose brushwork
Subject Matter
- Depicted Scene:
- Three women gleaning after the harvest, collecting leftover corn.
- A tradition of rural begging.
- Background Elements:
- Grain stacks and a wagon filled with harvest.
- Main group of harvesters in the distance.
- A supervisor on horseback overseeing harvesters, ignoring the gleaners.
Representation of Social Hierarchy
- Foreground:
- The three women are depicted in a substantial and monumental manner.
- Despite their size in the painting, they are socially insignificant.
- Background:
- The main harvest operation and supervisor indicate a social hierarchy.
Reception and Criticism
- Public Reaction at Salon:
- Criticized for inciting fear of potential radicalization and revolution like in 1848.
- Highlighted issues of poverty in the countryside.
- The Parisian audience felt threatened by the depiction of the rural poor.
Artistic Choices by Millet
- Portrayal of Women:
- The women appear well-fed and strong, not in rags.
- Conveys a mixed message; not entirely destitute.
- Softness in representation, below the horizon line, embraced by the landscape.
- Composition:
- Rhyming of the rounded forms of the women's backs.
- Beautiful composition despite representing harsh labor.
Interpretations
- Millet's Approach:
- Softens the impact of the harsh reality depicted.
- Makes the scene more palatable for the audience.
This painting remains a significant commentary on social class and labor realities in 19th century France, balancing between a realistic representation and a softened, artistic interpretation. (piano music)