The artwork titled “Wheat” was created by Thomas Hart Benton in 1967 using oil on wood. It is part of the Regionalism art movement and falls under the landscape genre. This piece vividly depicts a scene of densely packed wheat, meticulously detailed to convey the texture and form of the grain.
In the artwork, Benton’s mastery in rendering the natural world is evident through the intricate portrayal of the golden wheat stalks, which dominate the composition. The wheat appears to be swaying subtly, each stalk detailed with precision, capturing the dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The lower part of the artwork shows the stubbled ground, suggesting a freshly harvested field contrasted against the standing wheat above. The overall effect invites the viewer into the tranquility and continuity of the rural landscape, reflecting the essence of Regionalism’s focus on American agricultural life.
