Young shepherdesses and their flocks are a common motif throughout Millet’s oeuvre. Here as in other instances, the young woman remains industrious, knitting even as she rests against a rock. In this work, however, Millet has given the setting sun powerful precedence, a testament to his growing interest in the challenges of capturing light and weather conditions.
It is possible to trace Millet’s stylistic development through the large number of pastels he produced throughout his career, and this later work is evidence of his increasing freedom of expression. The blinding light largely obscures the landscape, sheep, and even the sun itself. Rather than smoothing the surface of the image, Millet has allowed his individual marks of crayon and pastel to remain visible, further foregrounding the dramatic light as it cuts across the girl’s shoulder.

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