Haystack in a Field 1967

Curator: Sheila Fell's "Haystack in a Field," held here at the Tate, presents a compelling landscape, rendered with oil on canvas. It measures approximately 71 by 91 centimeters. Editor: My immediate sense is one of stark desolation, yet also a kind of stubborn resilience in the face of harsh weather. Curator: The haystack itself—a potent symbol of harvest and provision—looms large. Fell often used such imagery to explore themes of sustenance and endurance. Editor: Absolutely, it speaks to the intersection of labor and the land, and how both are often exploited within the capitalist system. Curator: But notice also the ladder leaning against the haystack, a symbol of aspiration, perhaps, or of reaching for something beyond the immediate, material reality. Editor: Or, it represents the very real labor required to build the stack. The artist isn't just creating symbols, but referencing real work and the bodies involved. Curator: Indeed. Fell had a deep connection to the land, born as she was in the rural north of England. It's all there, isn't it, in the image? Editor: It is. And for me, the painting evokes the ongoing struggle for fair labor practices and sustainable land use.