A Bean Field at Pickersleigh, near Malvern, Worcestershire 1890

David Bates captured this bean field at Pickersleigh, near Malvern, Worcestershire, in paint. The open expanse of the bean field, with its muted greens and blues, reflects the agricultural backbone of Victorian England. Bates, working in a time of rapid industrialisation, presents a scene that seems untouched by the changes sweeping the nation. Note the lone figure of the peasant woman who is harvesting beans; this character evokes a sense of timeless rural existence. The church spires are visible in the distance which indicates the quiet authority of the Church. The social hierarchy of the rural village and the natural order of the land merge in the landscape. To truly appreciate Bates's work, one must delve into the agricultural and social records of Worcestershire during the late 19th century. By exploring these resources, we gain insight into the artistic choices Bates made in his depiction of rural life. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.