The Haymakers
12:00 AM |
| Jean-Francois Millet, The Haymakers, 1849 |
Millet’s works often were criticized with the argument that his paintings withheld a political statement. The works he received the most criticism for included The Gleaners, The Sower, and The Haymakers. Critics accused Millet of depicting labor, through highlighting the ragged clothes of peasants and putting focus on the misery and pain of the workers, as a horrifying nightmare. It took quite a bit of time before people came to the realization that Millet had no political intentions.
Millet says of his subject matter, "To tell the truth, the peasant subjects suit my temperament best; for I must confess, even if you think me a socialist, that the human side of art is what touches me most."
Like in many of Millet’s work, the faces of the characters in The Haymakers can’t be seen. Yet, their emotions still convey struggle but strength. The light source of the painting highlights the backs of the men, enhancing their work but also defining their muscles and strength. Millet's, The Haymakers is an example displaying the hardship of peasant life, while also glorifying it.
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