The Sewer
Original title: The Sewer
kurzbeschreibung
In 1855 Jean-François Millet etched a woman knitting in a bare room. The print was made as an etching in brown and black ink on laid paper and is present here in the third of three states.
Description
Seated on a chair, the woman gives herself over to her knitting. A cap covers her head, and her body is dressed in a long, close-fitting gown that reaches past her knees. Her legs are slightly bent; she works the needles with her left hand while her right holds the knitted fabric. Behind her runs a wall set with a barred window that lets in daylight. The uneven floor bears traces of dirt.
Context
Around 1855 Millet turned increasingly to rural and ordinary daily life, and this phase also includes his engagement with printmaking, which was widespread in the nineteenth century. The third state of the etching documents how the artist continued to work the plate during the printing process.
Impact
A quiet, familiar mood emanates from the sheet, drawing the eye to the concentrated calm of the working woman. Few pictorial elements and a delicate line give the view a simple yet precise expressiveness.
Technique
The sheet was printed as an etching in brown and black tones on laid paper. The etching of the lines produces fine strokes and gray values that vary with the depth of the etched plate. In the third state, reworking of the plate is possible, increasing the precision of detail.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)