JEAN-FRANÇOIS MILLET

REALISM

PAINTEROctober 4, 1814 – January 20, 1875

The Goose Girl at Gruchy, 1854-56The Sower

Khanh Le

EARLY LIFE/BACKGROUND

Born in Normandy, France

He was of peasant ancestry. His family worked on the farmhouse,

farming their land to support themselves.

He was the second out of nine children.

At age 12, his caretaker tries to talk him into the priesthood, but

declined.

1.

PROPERTIES OF MILLETS

REALISM ART

Scenes are depicted in a detached an unemotional way

Objectivity is an artistic goal: scenes are painted as they were, no

glamour.

Millet’s emphasis is on everyday life

painting scenes of people at work and family

scenes.

The Walk to Work

1. “Some people tell me that I deny the charms of the countryside;

I see far more in it than charm. I see infinite splendors. . . . I see

very clearly the halos of the dandelions, and the sun, far away

beyond the villages, suffusing the clouds with its glory. But I also

see the steaming, straining horses on the plain, and the

stony place where a man has been toiling and panting since

morning, and now tries to straighten up for a short breather.

…, and as all my life I have seen nothing but fields, I do my best

to tell what I saw and felt when I was working there.” [1863 letter]

The Sower

Man With A Hoe

The Gleaners

COMPOSITION

Rarely painted poses

Ruth and Boaz

Vigneron au Repos

USE OF ILLUMINATION

Uses the night to evoke a sense of

mystery

Often goes from dark to light

Light from above or behind

Le parc a moutons

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Staley, Edgcumbe. Jean François Millet. London: G. Bell &

Sons, 1903. Print.

2. http://www.jeanmillet.org

http://www.annexgalleries.com/artists/biography/1607/Millet/Jean

http://www.paintingmania.com/sower-1850-172_15057.html

REALISM / NATURALISM LESSON

PLAN

Time: Over two 45-minute class sessions spread over 2 non-consecutive days. Students will also need some time outside of class for observations.

General Goal:

Children will learn…

The idea of realism paintings, and how they differ from other types of paintings, such as romanticism paintings.

To observe people and objects around them in everyday life, and to write down what they see in a notebook

About Jean Francois Millet

Create an original art piece

Supplies/Materials for students

sketching paper

Pencils

Fine tip black markers

Crayons

Notebook

1. Have students make detailed observations wherever they go

out with their parents in a notebook. One observation a day is

preferable.

(Example. I went to the park to walk my dog and saw the ice

cream truck, it was parked on the red curb, was dirty, and had

trash all around it)

2. After a few days, have students pick out one scene they

observed from their notebook, and to their best ability sketch it

onto the paper with pencil. Make sure they include some

elements of realism into their sketch! (Stained carpet, dirty

clothes, dead grass)

3. Once outlined, have the students outline the pencil sketch with

a fine tipped felt pen.

4. Now have the students color in their drawing with crayon.

DAY 2

5. Once the students have completed their coloring, have

students come up to the front of their class. They will then give an

informal presentation of their piece. They should share their notes

and final product.

Evaluation:

Did the child take detailed notes over the time frame?

Did the student follow directions?

Did the student create an original piece of art, with properties of

realism painting?

Did the student participate in the class presentations?

Was the student able to explain how their work had properties of

realism, and was able to identify what an idealized version of their

subject would be?