The artwork, titled “Louisiana Rice Fields,” was created by Thomas Hart Benton in 1928 using oil as the medium. It falls under the Regionalism art movement and is categorized as a landscape and genre painting.
The artwork depicts a scene of agricultural activity in the Louisiana rice fields. The canvas is imbued with the hustle and bustle of rice harvesting, showcasing a comprehensive view of both human and mechanical efforts. Central to the composition are farm laborers working diligently, accompanied by horses and machinery involved in the process of threshing and transporting rice. The dynamic application of brushstrokes and the earthy palette capture the hard work and rural life, resonating with Benton’s Regionalist focus on American landscapes and daily life. The presence of smoke emanating from machinery and the organized piles of rice bags contribute to the industrious atmosphere of the painting. The overall ambiance is one of industriousness and collaboration, illustrating a snapshot of agricultural life in 1920s Louisiana.
