Death and the Woodcutter
Jean-François Millet · 1859
Why it's great
An old woodcutter, bent under a heavy load, is startled by Death, who comes to take him. Millet based it on a fable by La Fontaine, in which the man changes his mind about wanting to die. The painting shows the hard life of a working man. It's a famous story told in paint.
Where to see it
📍 Ny Carlsberg GlyptotekCopenhagen, Denmark
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Jean-François Millet was born into a farming family in Gruchy, on the coast of Normandy, France. He moved to the village of Barbizon near Paris, where he painted peasants at work in the fields. He treated farm laborers with dignity at a time when few artists did. His paintings moved Van Gogh and many others.
