Corn in the sun (1927) by José MalhoaGrão Vasco National Museum
Portuguese painter José Malhoa created the work 'Corn in the sun' in 1927.
In the painter, Malhoa captured the scene of a young woman, kneeling in the centre of the composition, removing the corn cobs from her basket, and spreading them out in the sun on a blanket.
In the background is another woman, busily engaged in a task, with other blankets of corn cobs spread out around her.
The painter focuses the attention on the bent body of the young woman in the foreground.
Her face and blouse are bathed in sunlight...
...and the yellow of the corn cobs...
...is echoed in the headscarf, beneath her hat, also rhyming with the red of her blouse and apron.
Using long and skilful brushstrokes, Malhoa brings out the youthfulness of the young woman...
...while the old woman with her back turned to us is painted with darker colors, contrasting with the younger girl.
This contrast references the cycles of life, as well as the rhythm of the seasons, in the context of country life.
Discover more about the 'Corn in the sun'.
