Stacking Grain Sheaves

A favorite subject of 19th century French painters was farmers stacking hay or grain sheaves. The farmers in this painting are probably stacking wheat. After the sheaves are stacked and left to dry, the wheat is harvested and the leftover hay was used for animal food and bedding. Notice that the woman's dress is the national colors of France and the bundles she is carrying are just as large as the men's.