Jules Bastien-Lepage (1848-1884), Woman with Rake, 1880, etching, 10 5/16 x 7 11/16 inches, Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchase/gift of Mahonri M. Young Estate, 1959.
On November 1, we celebrate the birth of French painter Jules Bastien-Lepage, who grew up on a small rural farm in Damvillers, France. As an artist, he remained faithful to peasant themes, inspired by memories of his childhood. Known primarily as a painter, he also excelled in printmaking, evident in this small etching. A woman, pausing with her simple rake resting on her shoulder, surveys the field of work awaiting her. The scene reminds us of the steadfast labor required in the autumn months to harvest and prepare for the long winter season ahead.