Who painted Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma))?

Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma)) was painted by Giovanni Fattori in 1886.

Where can I see Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma))?

Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma)) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma))?

Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma)) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma))

Giovanni Fattori , 1886

Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) (Bovi al carro (Maremma)) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Giovanni Fattori. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Giovanni Fattori’s 1886 etching titled Oxen Yoked to a Cart (Maremma) captures a rural scene in monochrome. The composition centers on two oxen pulling a wooden cart beneath a thatched shelter, set against a field of dry grass with a solitary ox grazing farther back. The sky is rendered with delicate line work, giving the image a sketch‑like quality.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts everyday agricultural labor in the Maremma region of Italy, emphasizing the relationship between the animals and the modest cart. By placing the oxen in a quiet, open landscape, Fattori highlights the simplicity and endurance of rural life, inviting viewers to consider the rhythms of work and nature.

Technique & Style

Fattori employed traditional etching on wove paper, allowing ink to fill the incised lines of a metal plate. The resulting surface is grainy and slightly rough, with fine cross‑hatching that defines the sky and ground. This method produces a texture that resembles a drawn sketch rather than a smooth print, underscoring the artist’s interest in immediacy.

History & Provenance

The work exists as an artist’s proof, suggesting it was produced before the plate was fully reduced for a final edition. Its precise ownership history is not documented, but the proof status indicates it was retained by Fattori or his studio during the print‑making process.