Artwork
First Steps, after Millet
First Steps, after Millet is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The garden setting functions as a symbol of protection and growth, reinforcing the painting’s representation of innocence and the natural progression of life.
The subject of First Steps, after Millet depicts a mother and child in the act of taking their first steps, with the child supported by an adult, likely the father, while a second woman observes nearby. The scene is set in an enclosed garden space, evoking themes of nurture and familial bonds. Van Gogh’s adaptation draws directly from Jean-François Millet’s 1858 painting First Steps, retaining the central motif of childhood development but infusing it with his own expressive use of color and brushwork.
The garden setting functions as a symbol of protection and growth, reinforcing the painting’s representation of innocence and the natural progression of life. The inclusion of multiple figures underscores the communal and supportive environment surrounding the child’s milestone.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1890 at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, this work is an oil painting on canvas measuring 72.4 by 91.1 centimeters. As a reinterpretation of Jean-François Millet's composition, van Gogh renders a genre scene depicting a man, woman, and child within a garden setting. The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support aligns with the artist's standard practice during his final year.
While specific details regarding the current physical condition or distinct brushwork handling are not explicitly detailed in the available records, the material composition confirms the use of traditional pigments bound in oil applied to a flexible textile ground. The piece functions as a painted copy, translating Millet's imagery through van Gogh's distinctive late-period approach to color and form.
History & Provenance
Vincent van Gogh painted First Steps, after Millet, in 1890 while residing in Saint‑Rémy‑de‑Provence; the work is an oil on canvas measuring 72.4 × 91.1 cm. The painting entered the collection of Julius Oppenheimer before being sold to Dalzell Hatfield Galleries, which later transferred it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains. Its creation follows the composition of Millet’s iconic scene, adapting the motif of a child’s first steps into van Gogh’s expressive style. The dating is firmly placed in 1890, and the work is classified as a genre scene painting.
First Steps, after Millet is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is recorded as an oil painting on canvas measuring 72.4 by 91.1 cm. Created by Vincent van Gogh in 1890 at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the work was based on Jean-François Millet's composition First Steps. Prior to entering the museum's holdings, the painting was owned by Julius Oppenheimer and handled by Dalzell Hatfield Galleries. The sources do not provide a specific accession number or a documented exhibition history for this work.
Overview
This oil painting, titled "First Steps, after Millet," presents a tender domestic scene set in a bright, grassy outdoor space. It depicts a man interacting with a young child, who is taking its initial steps, while a woman observes nearby. The artwork captures a moment of familial connection and early development, rendered with a distinct textural quality that defines its visual character.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.
