1855
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Diggers (Les Becheurs) is a 1855 ink by Jean François Millet, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
In this etching, two men are shown digging in a field, their bodies bent in labor. The scene is set against a backdrop of a vast, open landscape, with the men's figures prominent in the foreground. The etching captures the physicality of the men's work, with their muscles tensed as they dig into the earth. The level of detail in the etching suggests a focus on the everyday lives of ordinary people. If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this etching, you might want to look up Jean-François Millet.
Jean-François Millet (French pronunciation: ; 4 October 1814 – 20 January 1875) was a French painter and one of the founders of the Barbizon school in rural France.
See the richer artist page
