The Thunderstorm 1948

Grandma Moses created "The Thunderstorm" with oil paint on board, likely in her home studio. Moses didn’t train as an artist, yet she was skilled through years of domestic craft work. Her paintings often depict rural scenes and life in the countryside, rendered in a deliberately naive style. Here, the application of paint is flat, yet the layers of color are rich. The board's smooth surface allows for fine details, especially in the figures scattered throughout the scene. Notice the dark storm clouds, heavy with impending rain, and the way the artist uses short strokes to capture the movement of wind in the trees. "The Thunderstorm" reflects a deep connection to the land and its rhythms. It suggests the social fabric of rural communities, with everyone pitching in to get the harvest done. Moses elevates the everyday experiences of rural life, inviting us to appreciate the dignity of labor and the beauty of the natural world.