Ears Readers (French: Des glaneuses) is the title of an 1857 painting by Jean-François Millet. During sunset, three women in the foreground of the painting pick up the ears of wheat that were not taken during the harvest. From left to right, the three different movements of picking up ears can be seen: bending down to look for an ear of corn, picking it up and getting up to put it away. This work, which could be extremely painful but did not require great body strength, was mostly done by women and children from the poorest classes. Yet Millet managed to depict the women with dignity. In the evening light, their hands and clothes, which are simple but neat, take on a beautiful glow. The arena readers are part of the landscape; nowhere do they rise above the horizon. With their faces rendered only vaguely, they symbolise all impoverished rural dwellers. This depiction has often been used by other painters for their own compositions. This is a free copy made by Nop Briex in oil on paper (2023) after Millet's work.
Contemporary images and even those from the past inspire me to recycle them for re-actionary contemporary impressionist art. My drawings and paintings are sketch impressions in a loose and free style, the paintings in a colorful palette. I also produce collages and digital artworks or find new inspirations and.. Read more…