The artwork titled “Ploughing up Turnips, near Slough” by J.M.W. Turner, created in 1809, is an oil painting on canvas. It belongs to the Romanticism art movement and measures 102 by 130 centimeters. As a genre painting, it currently resides in the Tate Modern in London, United Kingdom.
This genre painting illustrates a rural scene involving agricultural laborers engaged in the process of ploughing and harvesting turnips. The composition features a bucolic landscape, detailed with farm animals and workers, set against a soft, hazy backdrop that conveys the tranquility and hard work of country life. The use of light and shadow demonstrates Turner’s impeccable skill in capturing the atmosphere, evoking the serene yet industrious character of the rural environment. The structures in the distance, likely to be monumental buildings or estates, add depth to the piece, while the subdued color palette highlights the naturalistic rendering typical of Turner’s style.
