Leon Lhermitte Ploughing Print c1880 Le Labourage French Farm Scene

Description

Leon Lhermitte ploughing print titled “Le Labourage”, depicting a farmer guiding a horse-drawn plough across a cultivated field. This large antique print, with an impression dated circa 1880, reproduces a drawing by the French artist Léon-Augustin Lhermitte. The complete sheet measures 54.5 × 38.8 cm, while the printed image measures 44.5 × 28.8 cm. Its horizontal composition gives considerable space to both the agricultural scene and the dramatic sky above it.

The farmer occupies the foreground towards the right of the image. Seen from behind and in profile, he follows the plough with his hands positioned on its handles. His stance conveys the physical effort involved in controlling the implement as it passes through uneven ground. His dark clothing stands out against the lighter areas of the field and sky, making him a strong focal point within the composition.

Ahead of him, the horses move away towards the left. Their bodies, harnesses and overlapping forms create a compact group that balances the figure of the ploughman. The wheels and framework of the plough connect the animals with the worker. These mechanical details are clearly represented and contribute to the interest of the print for collectors of historical farming imagery.

The foreground is filled with furrows, clods of earth and traces of vegetation. A variety of short lines and darker marks gives the ground a rough texture. The direction of the furrows helps lead the eye into the scene, following the progress of the team. This attention to the worked surface of the field makes the activity of ploughing central to the image rather than merely a detail within a landscape.

Along the horizon, rural buildings and a line of bare trees establish the setting. Their smaller scale contrasts with the large foreground figures and reinforces the depth of the view. The locality is not named on the sheet. The composition presents a rural working landscape whose appeal rests on the relationship between the farmer, his animals and the land.

The sky occupies a substantial part of the image and gives the scene much of its atmosphere. Dense dark clouds gather on the left, while a broad lighter area opens towards the right. Birds cross between these contrasting passages. The movement of the clouds echoes the energy of the activity below, creating a forceful setting for an everyday agricultural task.

The upper margin bears the printed name “LÉON LHERMITTE”. Beneath the image is the French title “LE LABOURAGE”, meaning “Ploughing”. Lhermitte’s signature is reproduced within the image at the lower left. This is a print after his drawing, with the artist’s name and signature forming part of the printed presentation.

The graphic treatment translates the drawing through varied lines, hatching and tonal contrasts. The horses’ coats, the farmer’s clothing and the heavy soil each receive a different texture. The dark sky is built from dense passages of marks, while the lighter clouds allow more of the paper tone to remain visible. These changes in handling give the composition visual richness across its large surface.

This Leon Lhermitte ploughing print will interest collectors of French rural imagery, agricultural history and working horses. It also offers a substantial decorative subject for those drawn to scenes of country life. The original French title and prominent artist’s name remain visible in the margins, contributing to the character of the sheet as an antique printed image.

The paper has a cream tone with scattered foxing and small spots, particularly in the margins. A rectangular difference in paper tone is visible around the image area. The impression retains strong contrasts and readable details throughout the composition. Please examine the photograph carefully, as it forms part of the description and shows the visible condition of this example.

The dimensions refer separately to the full sheet and the image: 54.5 × 38.8 cm for the paper and 44.5 × 28.8 cm for the engraved scene. The margins preserve the printed artist’s name and title. The combination of this generous format, detailed agricultural subject and expressive sky makes Le Labourage an engaging print to study as well as display.