Arbeiders op het land 1848 - 1888

"Arbeiders op het land" (Workers in the Field) is a pencil sketch by Dutch painter Anton Mauve, created between 1848 and 1888. Currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, the work demonstrates Mauve's signature style, characterized by loose, gestural lines and an emphasis on capturing the fleeting moments of everyday life. The sketch, likely a preliminary study for a larger work, captures the essence of working figures in the field with minimal detail, focusing on the rhythm of movement and the interplay of light and shadow. Mauve's interest in depicting the lives of ordinary people is evident in this work, which reflects his artistic sensibilities and his contribution to the Barbizon School of painting.