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It is the treating of the commonplace with the feelings of the sublime that gives to art its true power.
–Jean-Francois Millet
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Jean-Francois Millet (1814-1875) is mainly known for his peasant scenes painted in the genre of the Barbizon school, of which he was an originator. This genre marked the move from Romantic painting to Realism which depicted the reality of all aspects of the world, including the rural working class which were seldom portrayed heretofore.
This work played a huge role in the evolution of modern art as a number of artists from subsequent generations ran with this work , adding their own voice and style to the subject matter. Van Gogh, for example, directly copied a number of Millet works, such as The Sower below, in his own distinct style.
I am not moved by all of Millet’s work. Some of it feels generic but I think that is understandable as its style was so influential that it was emulated, creating a vast body of similar work. But there is something in a segment of his work that I feel is truly visionary in a way that lends credence to the statement from Millet at the top of the page. Here are a few of my favorites.
Redtree Times 
Looking at the next-to-last photo, something occurs to me: has any painter created a satisfactory depiction of a rainbow? I’ll have to explore that. Usually when I see a painted rainbow, it seems to me to hav a bit of a kitschy feel. Interesting.
That is exactly what I think about that image. I can’t think of another painting with a rainbow that doesn’t feel kitschy.
There’s a place in “visual arts” somewhere around “What am I looking at?” and “What am I seeing?” It’s not just the artist that’s searching the artwork for that illusive, elusive point, but the person confronting the artwork. And the most amazing thing about it is that when you do come across that “thing,” that point, that “oh, wow.” place, you know it immediately. You “get” it.
That first painting is like that. Your eye wanders over the piece interpreting the shapes into images, and figuring out what it is you’re looking at — shepherds, sheep, the distant house . . . . and then the moon happens. . . . and you see it.
Exactly…