Critical Analysis of Jean-François Millet's Work 'Women Collecting Springs' According to the Holistic Approach to Art Criticism

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 9, 94 - 109, 16.03.2025

Esra Özdal , Mehmet Akif Özdal

Abstract

This study presents a critical analysis of Jean François Millet's work "Women Who Collect Virgos" within the framework of the Holistic Approach of Art Criticism. The research was carried out by using descriptive analysis and logical reasoning techniques from qualitative research methods. In addition to the visual elements such as the composition of the work in question, the use of color, and the posture of the figures, its social messages and themes were examined.
The research findings have shown that the realist style depicts the daily life of the working class in an original way in the work entitled "Women Who Collect Virgo" and emphasizes the artist's respect for the working classes with social equality. In addition, it has been seen that this work strongly reveals the aesthetic interest of the Barbizon school in nature and agricultural labor.
The results showed that art is not only a representation of the noble classes, adhering to the findings, but also relates the daily struggles of the working classes to aesthetic and social values, showing that the figures are depicted realistically in the natural environment.
In this context, it has been seen that the work has an important position in the history of art both in terms of its emphasis on social equality and the aesthetic sensitivity of the Barbizon school towards nature and agricultural production.

Keywords

Jean François Millet, Virgo Collecting Women, Realism, Barbizon school, Social class

Sanat Eleştirisi Bütüncül Yaklaşım İzleğine Göre Jean-François Millet'in 'Başak Toplayan Kadınlar' Eserinin Eleştirel Çözümlemesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Jean François Millet'in "Başak Toplayan Kadınlar" adlı eserinin Sanat Eleştirisi Bütüncül Yaklaşım İzleği çerçevesinde eleştirel çözümlemesini sunmaktadır. Araştırma, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden betimsel analiz ve mantıksal akıl yürütme teknikleri kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Söz konusu eserin kompozisyonu, renk kullanımı, ve figürlerin duruşu gibi görsel unsurların yanı sıra, toplumsal mesajları ve temaları incelenmiştir.
Araştırma bulguları, "Başak Toplayan Kadınlar" adlı eserde realist üslubun emekçi sınıfın günlük yaşamını özgün bir biçimde tasvir ettiğini ve sanatçının toplumsal eşitlik ile emekçi sınıflara olan saygısını vurguladığını göstermiştir. Ayrıca, bu eser, Barbizon ekolünün doğa ve tarımsal emeğe duyduğu estetik ilgiyi güçlü bir şekilde ortaya koyduğu görülmüştür.
Sonuçlar, ise bulgulara bağlı kalarak sanatın yalnızca soylu sınıfların temsilinden ibaret olmadığını, aynı zamanda emekçi sınıfların günlük mücadelelerini estetik ve toplumsal değerlerle ilişkilendirdiğini ortaya koyarak, figürlerin doğal çevre içerisinde gerçekçi bir şekilde betimlendiğini göstermiştir.
Bu bağlamda eser, hem toplumsal eşitlik vurgusu hem de Barbizon ekolünün doğa ve tarımsal üretime yönelik estetik duyarlılığı açısından sanat tarihi içinde önemli bir konuma sahip olduğu görülmüştür.

Keywords

Jean François Millet, Başak Toplayan Kadınlar, Realizm, Barbizon ekolü, Toplumsal sınıf

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• Görsel Kaynaklar
• Görsel 1. Jean-François Millet, Başak Toplayan Kadınlar, 1857-1859, Yağlı boya, 83,5 x 110 cm, Tuval, Realist tarz, Musée d'Orsay, Paris. https://www.slam.org/explore-the-collection/millet-and-modern-art/, Erişim tarihi: 30.12.2024.