Léon Augustin Lhermitte

Léon Augustin Lhermitte was the "Laborer's Laureate." His style, rooted in naturalistic Realism, powerfully depicted rural life, particularly the dignity and toil of farmers. Key characteristics include:

• Focus on peasants and agricultural scenes: Lhermitte championed the everyday lives of those working the land.
• Honest portrayal of labor: He showed the backbreaking work without romanticism, highlighting the humanity and resilience of the people.
• Muted, earthy color palette: He employed tones of brown, green, and gray to reflect the soil and the environment of rural France.
• Masterful use of light and shadow: He used light to emphasize form and add drama to his compositions, creating a sense of realism.
• Simple compositions: He favoured strong horizontal lines to emphasize a sense of peace in this hard work.