Our Daily Bread c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Our Daily Bread" by Adrian Ludwig Richter. Editor: It feels very classical, very ordered. The figures are nicely positioned. Curator: Richter was deeply interested in the relationship between humans and nature, a common theme in 19th-century Romanticism. You see it here in the context of rural life and labor. Editor: Yes, there is a beautiful contrast between the active sower and the resting family. It speaks to both the effort and reward in agricultural life. Curator: The title alludes to prayer and provision, but perhaps more subtly to labor and social roles within communities. Editor: Quite so. The light and shadow, the textures—they all contribute to this image’s tranquil mood. It’s a celebration of rural existence. Curator: Ultimately, the artist asks us to consider our place within a larger social and spiritual order. Editor: A very balanced composition that seems to evoke a harmonious lifestyle.