“The Wood Cart” is an oil on canvas painting by the artist Camille Pissarro, created around 1863. The piece is an example of the Realism art movement and is categorized as a genre painting. Currently, the artwork is held in a private collection.
The painting depicts a rural scene where two individuals are engaged with a wood cart. The foreground shows pieces of timber lying on the ground, perhaps the load that has been or is to be transported. The cart itself, heavily laden with a stack of wood, is being hauled by two horses. The physical effort of the individuals and their interaction with the landscape is evident, highlighting the honest and unidealized presentation of rural labor that is characteristic of Realist art.
In the background, there are tall, slender trees, their verticality contrasting with the horizontal lines of the cart and wood. The sky appears to be bright, suggesting daylight, and is punctuated with soft clouds. The use of light and shadow, as well as muted naturalistic colors, contributes to the lifelike portrayal of this everyday rural theme.