Wandering Thoughts

widdwiIn Wandering Thoughts, Millet draws the viewer into the the life experience of the young woman by having her head turned and eyes fixed on us as though we, with her are sharing a bit of a melancholy moment. We know that she is devoted to the old woman sitting next to her. But at the same time, Millet uses the black hats on both women, the black lace on the young woman, with the grey under scarf, all topping the beautifully embroidered dress of pure white virtue; to raise questions.  Does the young woman think of herself “trapped” by her devotion.  Is this foreshadowing her own future, or is there more in life instore for her, and if so when will she be able to begin enjoying her youthful future.  The side door just behind both women is partially open, is it a sign of an opportunity for her to grasp? We as the viewer, have caught her in the moment of contemplation about her condition.  What will she decide, what would we decide if we were in her place?

All these thoughts and more about the human condition are masterfully caught and orderly put together by Millet, who was a great interpreter of the human condition.  Possibly this is why the painting has been so widely popular over the last century.  

Though Wandering Thoughts is one of Francis Millet’s most popular paintings, very little is known about when it was created.  Archive records definitely show it as having been painted prior to 1891, hence the circa 1890 date attached to it. It seems to be set in an English parish church, and there is some anecdotal evidence that the painting may have been done as early as 1883 in England.  Further research is needed.