Morning, from the series, “Four Times of the Day”

Description

Morning shows a woman riding a donkey near the center and left, with a basket forming part of her traveling arrangement. A man walks to the right carrying a long fork across his shoulder. The pair give Morning a practical rhythm, connecting the time of day with a journey in which people, animal and equipment share the same scene.

Jacques-Adrien Lavieille executed the wood engraving after Jean-François Millet’s design, and the impression is on chine collé. The separate roles preserve the relationship between Millet’s composition and the printmaker’s graphic translation. The work’s interest lies in giving an ordinary time of day a particular visual form, allowing repetition in daily life to become something worth noticing.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Jean-François Millet collection.