Jean-François Millet. 1814-1875.
La Baratteuse (Woman Churning). 1855. Etching. Delteil, Melot 10.i/iii. 6 3/4 x 4 3/8 (sheet 7 x 4 5/8). An extremely rare early printing, before the etched lines were stengthened and before Delâtre's address was added (in state iii),. Printed on white wove paper. The impression was probably printed by Millet. Unsigned. $4,500.
La Cardeuse (Woman Carding Wool). c. 1858. Etching. Delteil, Melot 15. only state. 10 x 7 (sheet 14 3/8 x 9 7/8). Illustrated: Print Collector's Quarterly 25 (1938): 146; Keppel, The Golden Age of Engraving; Leipnik, A History of French Etching. A very rich, well-inked impression with plate tone, printed on tissue-thin laid paper. Unsigned. $2,500.
Le Départ pour le Travail (Going to Work). 1863. Etching. Delteil, Melot 10.vi/vii. 15 1/8 x 11 3/4 (sheet 17 3/4 x 13 1/2). Melot describes vi as "Second state, with few added lines prolonging the clouds" (page 290). A rich impression, printed in shades of black/brown ink on cream wove paper. Signed in the plate, lower left. Housed in an elegant gold leaf frame. $7,000.
A Woman Sewing. 1855-56. Etching. Delteil, Melot 9.iii. 4 1/8 x 3 (sheet 8 1/4 x 6). A rich impression printed on papier vedâtre. An extremely scarce etching. Unsigned. $3,500.
Millet was born into a family of peasant farmers near Cherbourg. He depicted numerous rural scenes based on his childhood memories. Criticized for allowing socialist concerns to infiltrate his art, Millet stated that it was "the human side" of life that he wished to portray, In 1849 he moved to Barbizon where he remained for the rest of his life, painting laborers going about their daily business.
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