Haymaking
1865
Beneath a massive, stormy sky that looks ready to burst, peasants are scrambling to gather hay in a vast field. You can see the hard work of rural life here, with figures bending over golden haystacks while a quiet village with a church spire watches from the horizon. Painted in 1865 by Camille Pissarro, this piece captures the moody atmosphere of the French countryside long before Impressionism officially became a 'thing.' Pissarro was actually the 'godfather' of the movement, mentoring famous names like Cézanne and Gauguin, and he holds the record as the only artist to exhibit in all eight Impressionist shows.