Landwerkers in het hooi c. 1862 - 1864

Johannes Tavenraat created this sketch of land workers in the hay with pencil on paper. He lived in a time of immense social change. The Netherlands experienced both economic hardship and burgeoning industrialization, impacting the lives of its working class. This drawing depicts laborers engaged in the backbreaking work of haymaking. The figures are hunched and their postures speak to the physical strain and the social reality of agrarian labor. Tavenraat captures the essence of their toil, portraying not just bodies at work, but also the conditions of labor that define their lives. Though rendered simply, the emotional weight of this lifestyle is apparent. Although Tavenraat often romanticized rural life, artworks like this one offer a glimpse into the lived experiences of the working class. This piece reflects the complex interplay of the personal and societal forces shaping everyday existence.