The soft pastels with which Millet did this piece are
perfect for the peaceful mood of the painting.
The shepherdess is resting against a rock in the shade and knitting,
with the sheepdog (who looks like he is keeping an eye on the sheep outside the
frame of the painting) at her side. The
girl’s clothes are rustic perhaps, but the colors are vibrant and lovely. Millet seems to be showing in this painting
that even the humblest of circumstances can be beautiful when one looks at them
in the right way.
