Jean François Millet

Jean François Millet was a French painter born on October 4, 1814, in Gruchy, Normandy, and he passed away on January 20, 1875, in Barbizon. He was a prominent figure in the Realism movement, known for his depictions of rural life and peasant labor. Millet's work, such as "The Gleaners" and "The Angelus," emphasized the dignity and hardship of agricultural workers, influencing both his contemporaries and later artists. He was a founding member of the Barbizon School, a group of painters who sought to portray the natural world with sincerity and truth. Millet's focus on the everyday lives of peasants marked a significant shift from the idealized subjects of previous art movements, contributing to the broader Realist movement in 19th-century art. His legacy endures in the way he captured the essence of rural existence with empathy and authenticity.