Artwork
October (Saison d'octobre)
October (Saison d'octobre) is an oil painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria. October, also catalogued under the French title Saison d’octobre, is an 1878 oil painting by the French realist Jules Bastien‑Lepage.
About this work
Overview
It is frequently referenced by alternative titles such as Picking Potatoes, The Potato Gatherers, or Woman Gathering Potatoes, reflecting its subject matter.
October, also catalogued under the French title Saison d’octobre, is an 1878 oil painting by the French realist Jules Bastien‑Lepage. Executed on canvas, the work depicts a rural scene and is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. It is frequently referenced by alternative titles such as Picking Potatoes, The Potato Gatherers, or Woman Gathering Potatoes, reflecting its subject matter.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman engaged in the harvest of potatoes, a motif that underscores the seasonal labor of the French countryside in autumn. By focusing on a solitary figure amidst the fields, the painting conveys the dignity of agricultural work and the cyclical rhythm of the harvest season.
Technique & Style
Bastien‑Lepage employs a naturalistic palette and loose brushwork characteristic of late‑19th‑century realism. The oil medium allows for subtle modulation of light across the earth tones, while the canvas surface captures the texture of soil and foliage, emphasizing the tactile reality of the harvest.
History & Provenance
Created in 1878, the painting entered the public domain through acquisition by the National Gallery of Victoria, where it has been displayed since. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s early career, marking an important step in his development as a chronicler of rural life.
Context
The work belongs to a period when French painters increasingly turned to agrarian subjects, reflecting broader social interest in the lives of peasants. Bastien‑Lepage’s focus on everyday labor aligns with contemporary realist tendencies that sought to portray the authenticity of provincial existence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jules Bastien-Lepage (1 November 1848 – 10 December 1884) was a French painter closely associated with the beginning of Naturalism, an artistic style that grew out of the Realist movement and paved the way for the development of…
