The Harvest or Summer
1893
François Lafon captures the weary spirit of 'The Harvest' (or Summer) in this delicate, fan-shaped sketch. A peasant woman sits slumped on the ground, her back to us, taking a well-deserved breather next to a curved scythe and a sheaf of wheat. The loose, fluid washes of blue and ochre suggest this was a quick study, likely a design for a decorative ceiling panel or lunette. It’s a beautiful example of Academic art turning a mythological concept—the personification of Summer—into a relatable moment of human exhaustion.
- Technique
- Watercolor and pencil
- Material
- Paper