20. Jean-François Millet
(1814-1875)
La Fileuse Auvergnate

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Millet, La Fileuse Auvergnate

La Fileuse Auvergnate

Etching, 1868-69, 198 x 129 mm., Delteil 20 v/v. Very fine impression, with plate tone, on laid paper with full margins, as published in Sonnets et Eaux-Fortes in 1869 in an edition of 350; the paper lightly and evenly toned throughout. All previous states of the plate are basically trial proofs and very rare. The plate was destroyed after this edition. The etching is related to, but not a copy of, a painting of similar name and of the same time, done by Millet at Barbizon after sketches made on a visit to the Auvergne in 1866.. The pose of the spinner is different, as is the placement of the goats. That painting is today in the Musée d’Orsay. At least one black chalk sketch also exists that would have served as the model for the etching, sold at Sotheby’s last year for $43,750.