“July Hay” is an artwork created by Thomas Hart Benton in 1942, employing tempera, oil, and masonite as mediums. This piece is a notable example of the Regionalism art movement and is classified under the genre of genre painting. The painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork titled “July Hay” features a rural scene emblematic of Benton’s Regionalist style, drawing attention to American life and its landscapes. The painting captures two farmers laboring in a golden field of hay, their backs to the viewer, engrossed in their work under the vast, late afternoon sky. The canvas is imbued with richly detailed natural elements, from the deeply textured bark of the tree in the foreground to the blooming flowers and verdant foliage surrounding the scene. The curvature of the landscape and the dynamic poses of the figures invoke a sense of movement and vigor, whilst the vibrant yet harmonious color palette enhances the atmospheric and idyllic quality of rural life depicted in Benton’s piece.
