Roasting Ears 1939

"Roasting Ears" (1939) by Thomas Hart Benton portrays a Black man working in a cornfield, a common theme in the artist's oeuvre. Benton's regionalist style, characterized by bold lines and vivid colors, captures the essence of rural American life. The composition is dynamic, with the figure of the worker in the foreground, the rows of corn leading the viewer's eye, and the distant farmhouse providing context. The painting, while depicting a specific subject, transcends its immediate setting to become a symbol of American labor and resilience.