Woman Burning Leaves

Jean François Millet was known for his resonant images of the rural poor, who through strenuous labor are elevated to a realm of dignity. This drawing in black chalk, with heavy framing lines, presents a woman shoveling leaves into a fire. While the subject of this drawing is typical of Millet, the light application of chalk suggests that this drawing was instead executed by an artist familiar with his work. A similar subject in the musée du Louvre, also executed in black chalk, demonstrates the forceful, angular lines more typical of Millet's drawings.