Victorian Oleograph Print after Jules Breton's 'The Gleaner'

Story

In 1877, Jules Breton painted a peasant woman returning from the fields, capturing the dignity of rural labor. This print allowed middle-class Victorian families to bring that same rustic, romanticized French countryside into their own parlor.

Maker / Origin

Jules Breton (1827–1906) was one of the primary French Realist painters of the 19th century. Unlike his contemporary Jean-François Millet, who often depicted the harsh, grinding misery of peasant life, Breton idealized his subjects, painting them with a classicized, heroic grace that made his work immensely popular with international collectors and printmakers.

Condition & Value

The frame shows some minor wear, typical plaster cracking, and small chips consistent with age, but retains its brilliant gold gilt finish. The print itself appears well-preserved under glass, with some minor age-toning.