Time of harvesting (Mowers) 1887

"Time of Harvesting (Mowers)" is an oil on canvas painting by Grigoriy Myasoyedov, created in the late 19th century. Myasoyedov was part of the Peredvizhniki movement, a group of Russian realist artists who aimed to depict the lives of ordinary people and critique social inequalities. Here, we see peasants during harvest, their bodies immersed in the ripe wheat field. The artist challenges traditional idealized representations of rural life, opting to portray the physical demands of agricultural labor. Look at the faces of the mowers: the weariness and resilience in their expressions, and the implication of generational knowledge being passed down. Myasoyedov sought to capture the essence of Russian peasant identity, rooted in their connection to the land and their collective labor. The painting is not just a snapshot of rural life; it is an affirmation of the dignity and strength of the Russian peasantry.