Who painted Potato Lifting?

Potato Lifting was painted by Thomas Barclay Hennell in 1940.

Where can I see Potato Lifting?

Potato Lifting is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Potato Lifting?

Potato Lifting is associated with Social Realism.

Artwork

Potato Lifting

Thomas Barclay Hennell , 1940

Potato Lifting is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Thomas Barclay Hennell. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1940 by British painter and writer Thomas Barclay Hennell, *Potato Lifting* is a watercolour that captures a moment in a rural landscape. The work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection and exemplifies Hennell’s interest in everyday labour scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts two figures in dark coats working beside a deep, freshly turned hole in an open field, suggesting the manual effort of harvesting potatoes. A muted sky and distant trees frame the activity, emphasizing the modest, unglamorous aspects of agricultural life.

Technique & Style

Executed with rapid, loose brushwork, the watercolour conveys a tactile sense of texture, especially in the bright, exposed earth. The palette is restrained, dominated by subdued tones, while the vivid soil provides a focal contrast, aligning the piece with the realist approach to ordinary subjects.

History & Provenance

During World War II Hennell served as an official war artist, a role that ended with his death in 1945 while on duty in Indonesia. *Potato Lifting* remained in his estate before being acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is displayed as part of their British watercolour holdings.

Context

Although Hennell was British, the painting reflects the Social Realism tendencies that were prominent in American art of the era, focusing on the dignity of labor and the social conditions of rural workers during a period of global conflict.

Artist & collection

Artist

Thomas Barclay Hennell

Thomas Hennell (16 April 1903 – 1945) was a British artist and writer who specialised in illustrations and essays on the subject of the British countryside.