The image shows a pastoral setting with a slightly elevated viewpoint. The horizon is higher in the image with hilly terrains and a night sky above. A bright moon illuminates the scene. Detailed linework depicts a farmer with oxen and a dog on a rustic path. In the distance, a house with smoke coming out of the chimney can be seen. The style features fine etching lines for texture and depth. The color palette is monochromatic, creating deep contrasts. The composition is balanced, guiding the viewer's eye from right to left.
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The Weary Ploughman

Samuel Palmer (British, 1805 - 1881)

1858

Medium
etching on wove paper
Classification
Print
Dimensions
plate: 19 × 26.3 cm (7 1/2 × 10 3/8 in.) ; sheet: 30.8 × 43.9 cm (12 1/8 × 17 5/16 in.)
Culture
British
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CG-E
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art