La Sieste : Scene in the Eastern Pyrenees

About this work

This painting shows a tired man lying on the ground next to two oxen. Behind him is a covered wagon with a third ox hitched to it. Chickens peck at the dirt nearby, and a simple wooden fence runs along the right side. The sky is pale, and the buildings look old and weathered. The artist paid close attention to how light falls on the animals and the man’s clothes, making some spots look bright and others shadowy. This helps show the heat of the day and the hard work of the scene. If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like it.