The Ploughman and his Horse

1854

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a tired horse and a thin, bent man plowing a field. The lines are rough and dark, like quick notes scribbled in a hurry. Words in French fill the page, mixed with the drawing—some look like dialogue between the two. The artist used simple shapes and heavy ink to show hard work and exhaustion. This style matches a group of artists who focused on real life, not fancy scenes. Next, check out Realism to see more art like this.