A Sower by Frederik Vermehren

Frederik Vermehren's "A Sower" (1859) is a realist oil painting held by Statens Museum for Kunst. It captures a moment of idealized rural labor, reflecting Denmark's national romanticism movement.

Look at the determined sower, his hand scattering seeds from a worn bag. In the background, a horse pulls a plow through rich soil, and a village church anchors the horizon. An alert black dog watches nearby.

Vermehren, a key figure of the Danish Golden Age, often depicted ordinary country life. This work embodies the period's focus on celebrating national heritage through idealized genre scenes.

This painting offers a glimpse into 19th-century Danish agricultural life, balancing realism with a romanticized vision of the farmer's toil.

Details

His worn bag holds life for the soil.
His worn bag holds life for the soil.
A sturdy horse plows the rich earth.
A sturdy horse plows the rich earth.
Transcript

This is a Danish farmer sowing seeds. He focuses on the land ahead. His worn bag holds life for the soil. Frederik Vermehren painted this in 1859. Danish artists idealized country life then. A sturdy horse plows the rich earth. A village church stands in the distance. The dog is alert, a faithful companion.