Description of the painting by Peter Rubens “The Return of the Peasants from the Field”

Description of the painting by Peter Rubens The Return of the Peasants from the Field

Rubens is an artist from the Netherlands, very prolific, distinguished by stupid vital energy, optimism and ease of hand. He combined in his works Breugel’s realism with the achievements of the Venetian school, wrote on mythological and religious themes, simple nature, portraits of people. His paintings are very diverse and multilateral.

“The return of peasants from the field” – a large landscape, which is a panorama of the countryside. The sun had already set, behind the grove by the river you can see the reflections. The sky is covered with clouds, they are mobile and resemble gold in color. They seem soft, like down pillows, and light as feathers.

Under the sky – the usual rural landscape. The small river flows between the gentle banks. The wind stirs the trees. Grazing cows and sheep, a man on a cart chasing horses. Peasant girls are returning to the village – barefoot, tanned,

in simple dresses, with scarves on their heads. Carry pitchforks and rakes, green hay, an armful of flowers. They were tired for the day, in their postures visible relaxation and contentment. The oncoming traveler waves to them – they look back at him and laugh. Reigns hot summer.

The road is covered with dust, the sun has just stopped frying anyone who comes out of the shade. There is a lot of work in the fields, a lot of work with animals, and it is so easy to imagine how to reach out from the village where the girls go, barking dogs. It smells like cooking, as people with coarse callous hands sit at the table and eat, economically picking up the whole gravy.

This is a simple life in gold and red flowers, the life of people infinitely close to the earth, living by its grace. Rubens conveys the very mood of such a life with brown-orange tones, dilutes it with stunted greens, lubricates one with the other and causes it to flow into each other.

If you close your eyes, standing in front of the picture, you can hear the laughter and talk of girls hurrying home.


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

Description of the painting by Peter Rubens “The Return of the Peasants from the Field”