Reapers Resting in a Wheat Field
1885 Metropolitan Museum of Art
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting captures a scene of agricultural workers taking a break in a field of golden wheat, rendered with the loose, atmospheric brushwork characteristic of Impressionism. It was executed during the artist's time in the English countryside near Broadway.
Did you know?
John Singer Sargent was better known for his formal portraits, but in the summer of 1885, he experimented with plein air painting in the English village of Broadway. The influence of French Impressionism is evident here in the dappled light and loose brushstrokes, a stylistic shift from his earlier, more rigid academic training. This painting reflects a brief but significant period of artistic exploration before he moved to London to further his career as an elite portraitist.
On your wall. Unlock the HD download and keep this piece in your Vault — forever.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
Reapers Resting in a Wheat Field
John Singer Sargent, 1885
