Jean-François Millet

Jean-François Millet was a French painter born on October 4, 1814, in Gruchy, Normandy, and he died on January 20, 1875, in Barbizon, France. Millet was a prominent figure in the Realism art movement, known for his depictions of peasant life and rural labor. His works, such as "The Gleaners" and "The Angelus," are celebrated for their empathetic portrayal of the working class and their influence on later artists, including Vincent van Gogh. Millet's upbringing in a farming community profoundly influenced his artistic focus on agrarian themes. In 1849, he moved to Barbizon, where he became a central figure in the Barbizon School, a group of artists who sought to paint nature and rural life with sincerity and truth. His legacy is marked by his ability to elevate the everyday lives of peasants to subjects of profound artistic and social significance.