Who painted A grass-cutter and his wife?

A grass-cutter and his wife was painted by Unknown in 1770.

Where can I see A grass-cutter and his wife?

A grass-cutter and his wife is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A grass-cutter and his wife?

A grass-cutter and his wife is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

A grass-cutter and his wife

Unknown , 1770

A grass-cutter and his wife is a paint painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This small oil painting forms part of a series of thirty‑six images that document the various castes and occupations of South India.

About this work

Overview

This small oil painting forms part of a series of thirty‑six images that document the various castes and occupations of South India.

This small oil painting forms part of a series of thirty‑six images that document the various castes and occupations of South India. Each panel is framed by a red border, a narrow band of stylised cloud at the top, and rests on a dark green ground. The work measures only a few inches and was originally mounted in a bound album bearing a 1799 watermark and a bookplate belonging to Joseph Whatley, whose Latin motto "Pelle Timorem" translates as "banish fear."

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a grass‑cutter and his wife at work. The man, wearing a white turban, wields a curved blade to cut grass, while the woman stands nearby holding a bundle of the freshly cut stalks. Their long, looped shadows stretch across the ground, emphasizing the labor and partnership inherent in this occupation.

Technique & Style

All panels share a consistent compositional framework—red border, cloud strip, and heavy looped shadows—but differ in execution. This particular image shows figures rendered with relatively delicate lines against a dark green background, a style distinct from other panels in the series that employ stronger drawing on yellow or more detailed rendering on deep blue fields.

History & Provenance

The album containing these paintings was assembled in the late eighteenth century, as indicated by a watermark dated 1799 and the inscription of each caste or occupation in English along the bottom border. The collection was later associated with the British collector Joseph Whatley, whose bookplate appears on the album, suggesting it entered his possession before eventually being acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Context

Created for a British audience, the series functioned as a visual guide to the social and economic structure of South India during the colonial period. By presenting each caste and trade in a uniform format, the images offered a systematic, if simplified, overview of Indian society for officials and travelers unfamiliar with local customs.