“Going to Market,” a work by the illustrious artist Rosa Bonheur, was completed in the year 1851. Emanating from the Realism art movement, this genre painting depicts a keen observation of everyday life and illustrates a scene that the artist deemed worthy of artistic representation. The Realism movement sought to represent subjects truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, implausible, exotic and supernatural elements.
The artwork presents a tranquil rural scene where a farmer is embarking on a journey to market. The farmer is seated atop a wooden wagon, holding reins that are presumably leading to the oxen in front. He is accompanied by the robust, steadfast forms of two oxen that are yoked and drawing the cart. A second wagon follows behind, suggesting a collective endeavor or a shared journey among neighboring farmers. The scene is set against an expansive landscape that opens to a distant horizon, with gentle mountains subtly outlining the background under a vast, open sky.
The vista is characterized by naturalistic detail—the lushness of the verdant land, the verdant grass embossed with the pathways that have been trodden over time, and bushes that dot the vista, all underpin the authenticity of the representation. Bonheur’s skillful application of light and her meticulous attention to the physical attributes of the oxen—musculature, texture of their hides, and the play of light on their forms—underscore her commitment to Realism. With this work, she not only captures a simple moment of rural life but speaks to the greater narratives of labor, community, and the connection to the land that was prevalent during the epoch.
