The Spinner
Original title: The Spinner
kurzbeschreibung
A woman at a spinning wheel in a domestic setting is the subject of the woodcut 'Die Spinnerin', which Jean-François Millet created in 1853. The sheet, executed as a woodcut on chine collé, is one of Millet's portrayals of peasant labor.
Description
The image is vertically oriented: at the center a woman leans slightly to the right to operate the spindle of the spinning wheel. The wheel stands large in the foreground; behind it appear a wall, a window, and a windowsill. The woman wears traditional clothing with a headscarf; the texture of fabric and equipment is carefully worked out. The monochrome woodcut technique and the subdued light evoke a historical mood. In the lower right, the name 'J. F. Miller' can be read.
Context
The print was made in 1853, a phase in which Millet was deeply engaged with rural life and country labor. The woodcut belongs to his involvement with printmaking, which he pursued alongside painting. The Spinner fits into his interest in simple, everyday tasks, which he depicted with dignity and seriousness.
Impact
The clear lines and calm arrangement give the sheet a quiet, collected aura. Subdued light and richly detailed textures create an intimate, almost reverent mood that takes the woman's work seriously.
Technique
Millet worked here in woodcut on chine collé: the fine Japan paper is mounted onto a support paper. The precise linework and the careful rendering of textures demonstrate his craftsmanship in this printmaking technique.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)