Sower 

Albin Egger-Lienz made this drawing of a sower in the early 20th century, a time of significant social upheaval and political change across Europe. The image is a stark depiction of a peasant, his body bent with labor. Made in Austria, a country with a deeply entrenched agricultural tradition and stark class divisions, the drawing is a product of its time and place. The figure’s powerful physique conveys a sense of strength, but also the relentless demands of manual labor. Egger-Lienz may be referencing the "Parable of the Sower" from the Bible, where the sower casts seeds on different types of ground with varying results. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the social conditions of the time, where the seeds of labor may or may not bear fruit depending on the circumstances. To understand "Sower" more fully, one might look into the socio-economic conditions of early 20th century Austria, as well as the role of religious imagery in shaping social consciousness. These types of research can help uncover the layers of meaning embedded in this piece, reminding us that art is always shaped by its historical and institutional context.