9. Unknown author, Genre Scene,

Unknown author, Genre Scene,

c. 1940

Oil on canvas

79 × 60 cm / 84.5 × 74.5 cm

Unsigned.

Description:

This painting, created by an unknown artist, depicts a peasant crossing a shallow river in a hay wagon pulled by a single horse. The water and the shimmering reflections on its surface occupy nearly half of the composition. The main subject, the wagon loaded with hay, appears in the centre. In the background, four small houses can be seen on a hillside in the distance. The surrounding terrain is covered in lush greenery which softly blurs to form a diagonal line cutting across the painting. The sky is blue and clear with a few light, diffuse clouds.

The scene takes place on a bright, pleasant day, as reflected in the colour palette. The blue of the sky, the green of the grass, and the warm, sunlit tone of the hay give the entire scene an optimistic feel. The broad, soft brushstrokes and lack of fine detail in the peasant’s face, the horse’s head and the wagon suggest that the painting is best appreciated from a distance.