The Apple Pickers 1876 - 1920

This is Edgar Degas' bronze relief, “The Apple Pickers”, made sometime in the late 19th century. Degas was part of the Impressionist movement, yet he always stood slightly apart. Here we see Degas' tableau of labor, a scene which harkens back to agrarian life. It stands in contrast to his more celebrated depictions of ballet dancers and racehorses. This sculpture is not just about apple picking; it subtly reveals the gendered division of labor and the physical demands placed on workers, especially women, in rural settings. The medium of bronze lends a timeless quality to the scene, yet it does not romanticize the realities of labor. Degas once said that art is not what you see, but what you make others see. “The Apple Pickers” invites us to see beyond the surface, to consider the complex social dynamics at play in the simple act of harvesting fruit. It’s a poignant look at the lives of ordinary people, rendered with a touch that brings both dignity and humanity to its subjects.