Shop art print and framed art La paye des moissonneurs by Léon Lhermitte

 
 
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To fully enjoy «La paye des moissonneurs» by Léon Lhermitte, we recommend the medium size (60x78.7 cm) printed on hand stretched canvas, with the gilded mouldings - thin frame.
The artwork

La paye des moissonneurs

La Paye des Moissonneurs by Léon Lhermitte: an iconic work by a realist painter

La Paye des Moissonneurs is one of the most famous works by French painter Léon Lhermitte (1844-1925). Dating from 1882, this painting perfectly illustrates the style and themes of this talented artist.

History of the work La Paye des Moissonneurs

La Paye des Moissonneurs belongs to the 19th-century realist movement that sought to depict the everyday life of the French working classes. Through this large-format canvas (180 x 260 cm), Léon Lhermitte depicts a group of harvesters receiving the wages for their labor. It was during a stay in the Aisne region that Lhermitte was inspired by work in the fields and decided to depict this realistic scene showcasing farm workers.

This painting was first shown at the Paris Salon in 1882 and was an immediate hit with the public and critics alike, even being awarded the gold medal. Following this success, Lhermitte continued to explore country scenes with his "Les Travaux des Champs" series.

Work description

La Paye des Moissonneurs features a dynamic main scene, occupying almost two-thirds of the canvas. In the center, a group of harvesters can be seen seated or standing, busy with various tasks. Some are counting the day's pay, while others are chatting amongst themselves, no doubt exchanging work news. A wheat reaper looks exhausted by the heat and hard work. In the center, a woman breastfeeds her baby while receiving her husband's pay.

The role of La Paye des Moissonneurs in Léon Lhermitte's career

At the time of the creation of La Paye des Moissonneurs, Léon Lhermitte was already a recognized artist in France thanks to his imposing canvas "Les Glaneuses" (1874), exhibited at the Paris Salon. This new work, however, brought him even greater public and critical acclaim. Thanks to this success, Lhermitte continued to work on the theme of farmers and their work through the seasons. He produced several other paintings on this subject.

In addition, it's interesting to note that La Paye des Moissonneurs was created in the midst of a period of social and economic transformation. The rural populations of the time suffered harsh living conditions, with interminable working days and high poverty rates. Léon Lhermitte's depiction of the daily reality of rural workers was in keeping with the tradition of committed artists of his time.

 

This artwork is a painting from the modern period. It belongs to the naturalism style.

 

« La paye des moissonneurs » is kept at Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

 

Find the full description of La paye des moissonneurs by Léon Lhermitte on Wikipedia.

The artist

Léon Lhermitte

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