Farm workers returning home c. 1881

Otto Scholderer sketched these "Farm Workers Returning Home" in charcoal, and though the date is unknown, his attention to rural labor is worth considering. In 19th-century Germany, the romantic idealization of rural life coexisted with the harsh realities of agricultural labor. Scholderer's sketch captures a sense of everyday life, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who toiled the land. It's interesting to note that Scholderer trained at the Städel Institute, right here in Frankfurt, absorbing academic traditions. Yet, this drawing suggests a move toward Realism, a style that sought to depict the world as it was, without sentimentality. Such images played a role in shaping public perceptions of rural life and the working class. Art historians often consult census records, newspapers, and agricultural reports to deepen our understanding of such works, grounding our interpretation in the social and institutional contexts of the time. By exploring these contexts, we can understand how art both reflects and shapes the world around us.