The threshing 

Rafael Zabaleta’s "The Threshing," is a watercolor painting depicting a traditional agricultural scene. Zabaleta has used a limited palette of earthy colors and blues. The rough texture of the watercolor paper adds depth, with the washes of color suggesting the dry, dusty environment and the physical labor involved in farming. The painting captures a moment in the process of threshing, the separation of grain from the plant. This was typically done by having animals walk over the harvested crops. Zabaleta shows the work in a way that highlights the interdependence of humans, animals, and the land. The scene is defined by the intense labor of agricultural work and the animals in service to that work. By focusing on the material realities of rural life, Zabaleta elevates this scene to a subject worthy of artistic attention, blurring the line between everyday activity and fine art.