The Return from the Field 1878

"The Return from the Field," an etching by Jules Bastien-Lepage, depicts a woman, likely a farmworker, returning from a day of toil. The figure, rendered in delicate, detailed lines, stands with her back to the viewer, gazing towards the horizon. Her rake is carried over her shoulder, its wooden handle extended, providing a sense of scale and weight. The composition emphasizes the woman's solitude and the vastness of the landscape. The artwork's realism and focus on rural life reflect Bastien-Lepage's commitment to depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people.