Paysanne bêchant (Peasant Laboring) 1890

Camille Pissarro made this print, Paysanne bêchant, which translates to “Peasant Woman Digging,” in the late 19th century. Pissarro was deeply committed to depicting the lives of rural workers. This piece reflects the burgeoning socialist sympathies among artists of the time. As industrialization lured many to cities, Pissarro turned his attention to those left behind. In this print, we see a woman bent over, tilling the soil with a large tool, her labor rendered with a dignity and seriousness often missing from depictions of peasant life. Notice her posture, the weight of her dress, and the presence of the chickens, all suggesting the intimate, interconnected nature of her world. The artist wasn't interested in romanticizing rural life, but rather, aimed to capture the unvarnished reality of labor and the profound connection between people and the land. He does this by emphasizing her physical engagement with the earth, her role as a provider, and her place within the cycles of nature.