Le premier sillon

Painted near the end of Greuze's life, Le premier sillon reflects his continued engagement with themes of rural virtue and honest labor that had first brought him fame at the 1755 Salon. By 1801, Greuze was impoverished and largely forgotten by the Parisian art world, though he persisted in working until his death in 1805. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays theatrically posed figures, expressive faces registering emotion with unsubtle directness, a palette ranging from Rococo pastels in early works to colder, more sober tones after the Revolution.

The earthy palette and broader handling suggest Greuze's late manner, with less of the meticulous finish that characterized his celebrated works of the 1760s and 1770s.