Johnson, Cady: Analysis of, A Broadway Milkmaid 

 

Analysis of,  A Broadway Milkmaid

In his work, A Broadway Milkmaid, Francis Davis Millet creates a calm scene of a milkmaid walking through a picturesque green field with her bucket and stool in hand as the dawn sky shows behind her. Though the painting is softly lit with light colors, Millet’s Milkmaid gives off an impression of strength and confidence based on how the milkmaid stands straight in the center of the picture. With his use of line, shape, and composition, Millet places focus on the woman’s face as well as her tools so that she is entirely the focus of the painting. Millet also uses soft lighting, color, and texture to create an overall serene image that allows the viewer to concentrate on the main figure of the milkmaid while also giving a calm background scene that puts the viewer at ease.

Millet’s use of line within A Broadway Milkmaid draws attention to the main focal point of the painting, the woman’s face. To start, the milkmaid herself is a strong vertical in the center of the picture plane and gives off a sense of stability and strength. The rest of the painting is mainly vertical oriented as well; the vertical plants on either side of the milkmaid help to give emphasis to the milkmaid by drawing the viewer’s gaze upwards, again towards her face. The only strong diagonals in this work are located on the stool and the bottom of the maid’s skirts. The legs of the stool point towards the maid’s face, the focal point of the work since the maid is almost looking directly at the viewer themself. The other diagonals are the seat of the stool and the lines of the maid’s skirt, both of which draw attention to the bucket of milk being carried. With the lack of forms in this painting besides the milkmaid, this series of diagonals creates a triangle that moves the viewer’s gaze from the stool, to the maid’s face, and to the bucket. By having the stool in one arm and the bucket, there is also a sense of balance that presents itself. With the stool being up in the air and the bucket being closer to the ground on opposite sides, both of these objects do add balance and visual interest since there is then more than just the maid standing there. Overall, the composition of this painting provides emphasis to the milkmaid in a very subtle way by relying mainly on the lines in the painting to guide the viewer’s eye to the focal points. These elements all show that this milkmaid is for certain the main subject of this image and should be what the viewer needs to focus on, especially her face and expression.

The lighting in the painting is extraordinarily soft and helps to set the mood of a gentle dawn morning. There is no strong overhead light which helps emphasize that it is still early in the morning and the sun is not yet overhead. While the lighting is not dynamic, the shading on the maid, pail, and stool is realistic and helps these forms not to feel flat. The light also strikes the bucket in such a way that it is highlighted which helps to draw focus to it since it is the strongest highlight in the painting, however, this is very slight. By avoiding any garish lighting, there is no part of the picture that strongly jumps out due to the light. Instead, the gentle light that fills this outdoor setting helps the viewer to take in the whole picture of this calm morning.

Much like the lighting, the colors used in A Broadway Milkmaid are soft and pleasant. The dawn sky is made up of pastel colors that show an early country morning. The field while vividly green is not garish and is a soft contrast against the blue and pink sky. The milkmaid herself is also made up of soft colors, with only the blue of her apron making any attempt to garner attention. The color choices lean towards being cooler toned and communicate a calm scene rather than one of warmth and energy. The colors altogether are peaceful which helps convey the tone of an early English morning.

The last element of the painting to consider is the texture. Millet’s brushwork is fairly smooth, but it is also partially painterly. The background of this painting is very faded, with the plants of the field losing any detail and fading into the sky the further back they are. The plants in the foreground are more detailed, showing individual leaves and stalks which helps to communicate growth in the field that the maid is walking through. While the light and airy brushwork may not communicate a lot of energy, it does help contribute to the overall serene tone of the painting.

It is through the use of line and shape within the composition that Millet allows the maid to come across as a confident and strong individual. There is no abstraction in this painting, resulting in a realistic picture of a milkmaid either coming or going from her work. The rest of the surrounding landscape gives off a calm and serene atmosphere. It’s through the lighting, color, and brushwork that the outdoor scene compliments the milkmaid and helps to simultaneously give focus to her and provide a calm sense to the painting. Altogether, all of the elements work harmoniously together to create a light and airy painting that depicts a strong, stable woman with the tools of her job.