Harvest, Landscape with Five Haystacks 1878

Gustave Caillebotte painted this evocative landscape with oil on canvas. He used traditional materials, but his approach is quite modern. Notice the thickly applied strokes; they capture the texture of the haystacks, giving them a sculptural presence. The subdued palette also emphasizes the materials. The browns and yellows, the blues and greens – all earthy and suggestive of the landscape itself. The making of haystacks is also labor intensive. It takes time to gather, dry, and stack hay into these iconic forms. The neat, conical shape is born from generations of practical knowledge and hard work, reflecting both human ingenuity and physical labor. Caillebotte, who came from a wealthy family, shows us the nobility of agricultural work. By presenting these haystacks with such attention, he elevates everyday labor to the realm of art. His work invites us to consider the social context and the hard work that goes into the production of our food.