The Piggery 1791

George Morland painted this scene of rural life, likely in the late 1700s, using oil paints and brushes on canvas. The rustic scene, with its earthy tones and relaxed composition, might seem like a simple snapshot of country life. But look closer at the labor involved. The man with his shovel, the girl tending to the pigs; all this represents daily labor and a hierarchy of work, all done by hand. The way Morland applied the paint gives us insight into his artistic process. Notice the loose brushwork, especially in the rendering of the natural elements – the hay, the trees. This technique, along with his choice of subject, places Morland firmly within a tradition of landscape painting. The scene depicts the realities of agricultural life, reflecting the economic and social structures of his time. Understanding how materials and making intertwine with cultural context allows us to appreciate the layers of meaning in this genre. It's a reminder that art, like craft, is always embedded in the world around it.