Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma)) 1886 - 1887

Giovanni Fattori made this print, "Oxen Yoked to a Cart," using etching, a process that allows for finely detailed lines. The plate would have been metal, likely copper, carefully drawn into with a sharp tool, then submerged in acid to bite away the exposed areas. Look closely, and you can see the variations in the depth and texture of the lines, creating a rich tonal range. This method allowed Fattori to capture the atmosphere of the Maremma, a coastal region in Tuscany. The image depicts the labor of rural life. The oxen, yoked and burdened, are central to the composition, symbolizing the hard work that defined the agricultural economy. By focusing on the material realities of rural life, Fattori elevates the everyday, challenging conventional hierarchies between fine art and craft. The etching process itself, with its emphasis on skilled handwork, reinforces this connection, reminding us of the labor involved in both artmaking and agricultural production.