The Diggers (Les becheurs)
1855
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1855
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two men are bent over in a field, digging with long wooden tools. Their clothes are simple, their bodies angled with effort. The ground is rough, with clumps of dirt and scattered plants. The sky above is light, almost washed out, while the earth below is dark and textured. This is an etching, so the lines are sharp but the shading is soft, like pencil strokes. The artist focused on the hard work of the men, not their faces. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this create prints.
