In the Garden

A young woman has taken her sewing out into the garden. Pausing in her work, she gazes into the distance. As though evidence of her momentary distraction, the contents of her basket have spilled onto the ground while the child in the background wanders towards the chickens, stick in hand.

While this pastel would have appealed to collectors for its charming portrayal of country life, there is a tension between the subject matter and its representation. Despite its bucolic nature, this scene is suggests a life defined by constant labor.

Millet has employed a variety of mediums. The dark conté crayon suggests that he originally intended this work to be a drawing. He later brought the scene to life through layers of watercolor and pastel.