Farmer with collapsed horse 1903

Giovanni Fattori painted "Farmer with Collapsed Horse" at an unknown date with oil on canvas. There is a raw quality to the brushstrokes here, a directness that speaks to artmaking as a process, almost like a sketch. The palette is muted, earth-toned, reflecting the harsh reality of the scene. The texture of the paint is thin, almost transparent in places, allowing the canvas to peek through, especially in the sky. Look at the way Fattori renders the horse, its body heavy and defeated, the brushstrokes mirroring the animal's exhaustion. The farmer stands beside it, a study in resignation, the lines of his face etched with worry. The scene has a somber tone, a narrative of hardship etched onto the canvas. Fattori's work reminds me a bit of Courbet, both artists shared a concern for portraying the realities of everyday life, without romanticism or idealization. Ultimately, Fattori leaves us with questions, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of rural life and the quiet dignity of those who toil in the fields.