“Caller Herrin’,” created by John Everett Millais in 1881, is an oil painting on canvas. This artwork, categorized within the Realism movement, represents a portrait genre and measures 78.7 x 110.5 cm. Currently, it is housed at the Hammer Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The artwork depicts a young woman seated contemplatively with her chin resting upon her hand. She is adorned in humble garments that consist of a blue-green dress and a white apron. To her side, a basket filled with freshly caught herrings is conspicuously placed, suggesting her connection to fishing or a seaside livelihood. The background features a subtle interplay of dark, shadowed foliage and a patch of illuminated sky or light, providing a serene, yet somber, atmosphere. The careful attention to detail and textured brush strokes exemplify Millais’ commitment to accuracy and embrace of Realism, capturing the quiet dignity and pensive mood of the subject.
