Oxen in Repose 1910

John Singer Sargent made this watercolor painting, Oxen in Repose, at an unknown date. It is likely to have been created in Europe, where the artist spent much of his career. Here, Sargent has presented a classical subject through a modern lens, and he is as interested in formal qualities as in the pastoral lives of the animals he portrays. He presents to us work animals from the countryside at rest. Oxen were of course crucial to rural economies at this time. We might see how this depiction fits into a history of painting that romanticizes nature, rural labor, and the working class. Sargent produced this painting during an era of rapid industrialization, economic inequality, and labor unrest, and it perhaps reflects a longing for a simpler way of life. To gain a deeper understanding of this painting, historians can consult a range of resources, including period writings about rural life and the political economy. Studying the institutions that exhibited and collected Sargent's works can also provide valuable insights.