On arable land Alexey Stepanov (1858-1923)

The composition presents a scene of rural labor, executed in a loose, impressionistic style. Here we observe a farmer guiding a team of two horses as they plow a field. The landscape is dominated by horizontal planes: the arable land itself, a body of water extending into the distance, and a low-hanging sky.
The color palette is muted, primarily consisting of earthy tones – browns, ochres, and grays – with touches of pale green suggesting nascent vegetation. The limited range contributes to a sense of quietude and perhaps even melancholy. The artist employed broad brushstrokes, creating a textured surface that conveys the physicality of the work being performed. Details are deliberately blurred; the figures and landscape elements appear somewhat indistinct, prioritizing atmosphere over precise representation.
The farmer is positioned close to the viewer, their back turned, emphasizing their role as an anonymous representative of agricultural toil rather than an individualized portrait. The horses, rendered in dark tones, seem powerful yet subdued, integral components of this cyclical process. A small calf stands nearby, adding a touch of domesticity and suggesting continuity across generations.
The body of water in the background provides a visual respite from the immediate foreground activity, but its indistinctness also reinforces the sense of isolation inherent in rural life. The sky, overcast and gray, further contributes to this mood.
Subtly, the painting seems to explore themes of labor, tradition, and the relationship between humanity and nature. It is not a celebratory depiction of agricultural abundance; instead, it conveys a quiet dignity associated with hard work performed within a landscape that is both beautiful and demanding. The absence of overt emotion or narrative suggests a focus on the inherent rhythm and endurance of rural existence.