The Sower by Jean-François Millet

A universal symbol of the work of the land and an undisputed masterpiece of pictorial realism, this dynamic work expresses the raw energy of the peasant condition. The illustrious Jean-François Millet breathes a monumental power into this moving figure in the famous canvas entitled “The Sower”. By choosing a heroic framing for a banal agricultural gesture, the painter elevates the rural worker to the rank of a mythical and timeless figure.

A vigorous peasant strides down a dark and steeply sloping hill, throwing grain on the fly. Wearing an old worn hat hiding his face, he wears a brick-red jacket, blue trousers and straw protections around his legs. With his left hand, he squeezes against his chest a canvas bag filled with seeds, while his right arm is deployed to scatter the seeds. On the left, a cloud of dark birds prepares to descend on the upturned soil to plunder the earth. On the bright horizon on the right, under a dusty twilight sky, another peasant drives a team of oxen to complete the plowing.

The technical virtuosity asserts itself in the masterly rendering of the athletic movement and the muscular tension of the character. The generous and textured application of oil paint gives a striking materiality to the plowed land and the rough clothes. This absolute mastery of rhythm and volumes consecrates the creative genius of the artist.