The Reaping Machine 1860

Charles François Daubigny's etching "The Reaping Machine" (1860) depicts a scene of rural French life, highlighting the introduction of new technology to traditional agricultural practices. The composition features a large steam-powered threshing machine, surrounded by workers and a pile of harvested grain. Daubigny, a prominent member of the Barbizon school, captures the essence of a changing world through his realistic and detailed rendering of the scene, emphasizing the contrast between the old and the new. The print is a poignant testament to the modernization of the countryside and the impact of industrialization on rural life in 19th-century France.