Jean François Millet

This small, delicately treated etching is of exquisite rarity. The painter and etcher, Jean François Millet, who was born in Flanders of French parents, produced just three etchings, including the present Campagna landscape. His painted oeuvre, on the other hand, has come down to us thanks to a series of reproductive engravings by contemporaries, such as his pupil Théodore. Millet studied inter alia under Abraham Genoels in Paris and was stylistically greatly influenced by the classical landscape art of Poussin and Gaspar Dughet. Although the southern, Mediterranean landscape is the main motif of his art, Millet never went to Italy.

The present small sheet stands out for its compositional density and is executed in a free, spirited etching technique that generates a maximum of light and atmosphere. The multitude of different motifs combine to form a coherent overall image despite the modest format. A superb, contrasting impression, trimmed to the platemark. Minor defects, otherwise in excellent condition. From the collection of Defer-Dumesnil (Lugt 739).