Who painted Threshing paddy?

Threshing paddy was painted by Unknown in 1826.

Where can I see Threshing paddy?

Threshing paddy is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Threshing paddy?

Threshing paddy is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Threshing paddy

Unknown , 1826

Threshing paddy is a paint painting by the Realist artist Unknown. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1826, this watercolour portrays a rural laborer engaged in the traditional task of threshing paddy with the aid of three bullocks. The figure stands atop a modest heap of straw, directing the animals with a stick while a simple yellow sash encircles his waist. The composition is rendered in muted browns, grays and ochres, set against an unadorned background.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates an age‑old agricultural process in which the bullocks tread the harvested rice, separating the grain from the stalks. The title, "Threshing out the grain," underscores the work’s essential role in sustaining village economies and highlights the collaborative effort between human and animal in pre‑industrial farming.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the work relies on a restrained palette and economical brushwork to convey texture: the coarse straw, the muscular forms of the oxen, and the farmer’s modest attire. The flat background eliminates distraction, focusing attention on the physicality of the task and the interaction of light on the simple materials.

History & Provenance

The painting forms part of a larger series of thirty‑five drawings that document various trades and occupations of the period. This systematic visual record was assembled in the early nineteenth century and later entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public.

Context

Threshing with draft animals was a common method in East Asian rice cultivation before the advent of mechanical threshers. By depicting this specific labor, the artist contributes to a broader ethnographic interest of the era, capturing everyday work practices that were rapidly changing under industrial influences.