Harvesting Rice 1937

"Harvesting Rice" is a 1937 woodcut by American artist Anna Heyward Taylor, known for her depictions of African American life. This print, rendered in stark black and white, depicts a group of figures harvesting rice in a field. The simplified forms and bold lines give the work a sense of strength and dignity, highlighting the labor involved in this essential task. The composition is dynamic, with the figures bending and reaching, their movements echoing the swaying stalks of rice. Taylor’s work is characterized by its social realism, often showcasing the daily lives and struggles of Black communities in the American South.