The Knitting Lesson, Jean-François Millet (1869)
This image depicts a tender moment as a mother teaches her daughter to knit. The girl is absorbed in her work on a sock, using four needles and a ball of white yarn. The ability to make and mend clothing was an important skill for women within rural communities during Millet’s lifetime. Millet’s painting was inspired by study of his wife, Catherine Lemaire, and one of his six daughters. This painting was shown at the 1869 Salon, the annual French state-sponsored art exhibition, where it attracted praise for its sensitive portrayal.
