Artwork
Gleaners
Gleaners is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Théodore Rousseau. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Gleaners is a graphite drawing on wove paper created by Théodore Rousseau in 1840.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts three figures bent over in a field, collecting crops. Their simple attire and focused posture convey a sense of labor. The background, rendered with rapid, rough lines, suggests a natural setting with trees and bushes.
Technique & Style
The graphite on wove paper medium allows for expressive, gestural marks. The drawing's smudges and uneven lines reflect the artist's spontaneous and observational approach, characteristic of a study or sketch rather than a finished work.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Étienne Pierre Théodore Rousseau (French pronunciation:; 15 April 1812 – 22 December 1867) was a French painter of the Barbizon school.
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