Jean-François Millet

Possibly Madame Veuve Millet (and sold: her sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, April 24-25, 1894, lot 27)
Sale: Ader, Picard, Tajan, Paris, March 18, 1988, lot 3, illustrated

Paper is hinged to mat along top edge. Tiny tear at lower left corner edge, discoloration from old tape at lower and right corners, very faint foxing visible in spots throughout composition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Les Ramasseurs du varech which depicts Norman peasant farmers hauling in storm-tossed seaweed to apply to their fields as fertilizer, is a compositional sketch drawn by Millet during one of his return visits to his native homeland in 1853 or 1854.  The action of the farmers, straining against their long-handled rakes, challenged Millet, as did the complex spaces of this coastal subject. Ultimately he stretched the scene into a very horizontal arrangement for  a finished drawing (location unknown).