The Mower
Georges Seurat, 1881–82
About this artwork
Georges Seurat's *The Mower* (1881–82), a compact oil on wood measuring just 6½ × 9⅞ inches, captures a moment of rural labor with quiet intensity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Robert Lehman Collection, this work by the French artist depicts a lone man at work in the fields—likely swinging a scythe amid golden summer grass—evoking the timeless rhythm of agrarian life. Painted on a portable wooden panel, its small scale suggests it may have been a study or plein-air sketch, a format favored by artists exploring nature directly from life. Created when Seurat was in his early twenties, just before he revolutionized painting with Pointillism and Divisionism, *The Mower* reflects his budding fascination with light, color, and the human figure in everyday settings. The meticulous brushwork hints at the optical precision that would define his later masterpieces, like *A Sunday on La Grande Jatte*. As a genre scene of a working man, it underscores Seurat's interest in the dignity of labor, bridging Impressionist spontaneity with a more analytical approach. This gem offers visitors a glimpse into Seurat's formative years, reminding us how even modest studies laid the groundwork for modern art's scientific rigor. A perfect pause in the museum's galleries!