Midday Rest 1879

Frederick Morgan painted "Midday Rest" with oils on canvas, using traditional fine art materials to depict a scene of agricultural labor. Look closely, and you’ll notice the thick impasto strokes that bring the rough texture of the hay to life, contrasting with the softer rendering of the figures’ clothing and skin. Consider the labor involved in the scene. The hay, the product of long hours of physical work, provides the setting. The figures wear simple, functional garments suited for a day in the fields. The painting romanticizes rural life, but it also hints at the realities of agricultural labor. The weight of the task is palpable in the scene. By using these techniques and materials, Morgan elevates this scene of everyday labor to a subject worthy of fine art. It reminds us that all art is the product of labor, both physical and intellectual.