Lieur de gerbe Étude pour ‘La Moisson,’ l’un des 4 panneaux du grand décor du Conseil d’État, Paris

“Lieur de gerbe,” created by French artist Henri Martin (1860-1943), is a study for one of the four panels of a larger work, “La Moisson.” The painting depicts a single figure, bent over in a field, tying sheaves of wheat together in a process called "sheaf tying." The thick impasto and vibrant hues of green, brown, and beige evoke a sense of the rural landscape and the hard work of farm laborers. This piece, like many of Martin’s paintings, exemplifies the artist’s interest in capturing the beauty and dignity of everyday life.