The Ploughman and His Horse 1854

Charles Meryon created the etching, "The Ploughman and His Horse," sometime in the mid-19th century, a period of immense social upheaval and industrial transformation in France. Meryon, known for his detailed and often melancholic depictions of urban landscapes, here turns his attention to the rural world and the labor of the working class. The image depicts a farmer and his horse toiling in the fields, accompanied by a lengthy inscription of Meryon’s poetry about their labor. Through both image and text, Meryon creates a scene that speaks to the lives of those whose hard work often goes unnoticed and unrewarded. The poem accompanying the image details the exhaustion of the animal and the labourer: "You wear the yoke at the service of the valley… Man, poor, poor animal." It's a perspective that challenges the traditional romanticizing of rural life and the laboring class. Meryon's poignant portrayal invites us to reflect on the dignity of labor, the impact of societal structures on individual lives, and the emotional weight of unseen struggles.