The Harvesters, 1923

In the early 1920s, Josef Dobrowsky (1889–1964) was a regular at the Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum where he took some inspiration particularly from Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525/20–1569). The Harvesters of 1923 also relates back to the tradition-honored art that preceded this work. Like with Bruegel, the representation of the subject of the harvest is followed by a cycle of the seasons. The village scene in earthy warm colors shows a moment of agitation when bundles of harvested grain are brought in and secured from a rising storm. With Dobrowsky, atmosphere means both weather and mood. Like with his contemporary Albin Egger-Lienz (1868–1926) the hard-working peasants appear massive because of the flatness of their depiction. Egger Lienz’s Reapers in Rising Storm and Dobrowsky’s The Harvesters both address the subject of how humans—often with an enormous effort, and yet in vain—try to stand up to the overpowering forces of nature.

RR, 2021