Ramon Pujol (1947) - Tarde de cosecha

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Ramon Pujol, depicting two peasants working during the harvest in a vast field surrounded by trees, rural buildings and high mountains under a changing sky. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 60x73x2 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower left corner of the piece.
· The work is in good conservation condition, it shows a visible stain in the photographs.

The piece comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the included photographs are an integral part of the lot description.

The artwork will be professionally packaged by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents an extensive rural scene devoted to harvest work, developed in a wide field surrounded by trees, rural buildings and large mountains. The gaze delves into a landscape where earth, vegetation and sky combine to show a specific moment of agricultural life. Numerous sheaves of cereal are distributed across the surface, while two figures work among them, becoming the human center of a composition dominated by nature and daily effort.

In the foreground there are several large piles of cereal arranged irregularly. Some are very close to the viewer and are partially cut off by the edges of the frame, increasing the sense of depth and allowing us to imagine that the field continues beyond the image. Their compact shapes, dark at the base and lighter at the top, convey weight and volume. The strands sticking out of the sheaves reinforce their dry appearance and show the result of a day’s harvesting.

The arrangement of these piles creates a visual path that leads from the foreground to the center and background. The closer sheaves are large and defined, while those farther away gradually diminish. This sequence establishes a clear perspective and makes the field appear wide and deep. At the same time, each group has a slightly different shape, avoiding monotony and adding naturalism to the scene.

The land shows a mix of golden, ochre, brown, pink and green tones. The drier areas retain the warm color of the remaining cereal, while some green vegetation fragments survive among the already harvested zones. This chromatic alternation reveals the land’s transformation after agricultural labor. The field no longer appears covered by a uniform plantation, but marked by cuts, paths and the places where the sheaves have been grouped.

In the central-right area two peasants stand out working together beside a long row of cereal. One remains standing and wears a light shirt, dark trousers and a hat to shield him from the sun. The other appears bent forward, focused on gathering, arranging or securing one of the piles. His crouched posture directly expresses the physical effort the task requires, while the upright figure seems to observe the work done or prepare to continue.

The small scale of the workers against the field’s vastness underscores the hardship of their labor and the enormity of the surroundings they must traverse. Although they are discreet figures, they immediately attract attention because they introduce movement, history and humanity. Their presence helps explain the function of all the piles spread across the terrain and transforms the landscape into a record of a collective activity. They are not mere decorative elements, but the silent protagonists of a long and demanding day.

The peasants’ clothing is simple and practical, suitable for outdoor work. The hats protect their heads, while light garments stand out against the earthy field tones. One of them wears a blue piece that introduces a small note of freshness in the center of the composition. This chromatic touch helps separate the figures from their surroundings and focuses the gaze on the action they perform.

Behind the workers many other sheaves are scattered across the field. Some form compact groups and others appear isolated, waiting to be gathered or transported. The repetition of these shapes conveys the idea of an abundant harvest and a task not yet finished. Each pile seems to mark a completed stage of work, so the landscape also becomes a visual record of accumulated effort.

In the middle ground a rural building with dark walls and a reddish roof stands, partially protected by a large tree. The structure seems to be a granary, a storehouse or a country house directly linked to the farming operation. Its presence introduces a stable, everyday reference, reminding us that this landscape is not only a natural space but also a place inhabited and worked for generations.

To the left other small buildings can be discerned, some shaded by the mountains and trees. These structures are discreetly integrated into the surroundings and reinforce the impression that we are in a rural community cut off from others. Their simple shapes and low-pitched roofs establish a harmonious relationship with the terrain, as if they had emerged from the landscape itself and had long been part of it.

The trees distributed across the middle area provide verticality and break the field’s horizontality. In the center rises a large, lush tree with a dark, dense canopy that visually protects the building behind it. To its left appears another, lighter tree whose yellowish leaves receive the light more intensely. The contrast between the two creates variety and suggests the approach of late summer or the beginning of autumn.

In the background the terrain rises and gives way to a succession of mountains. Their profiles overlap at different levels, from the nearest dark slopes to the bluish and gray elevations that seem to disappear in the distance. This gradation expands space and situates the scene in a deep valley, surrounded by imposing nature. The mountains act as a protective barrier around the field and emphasize the sense of isolation.

Among the left-side mountains a light area stands out that could correspond to a lake, a wide river or a sunlit zone. Its presence introduces a luminous element that contrasts with the dark slopes and opens a small window toward the distance. This glow leads the eye to the far end of the valley and adds a note of mystery, as the nature of that bright space is not fully defined.

The sky plays an important role in the composition and is covered by large masses of gray, bluish and pinkish clouds. Some areas let through a warm clarity that tints the atmosphere, while others are thicker and more threatening. The atmosphere suggests a moment of transition, perhaps the last hours of the afternoon or the approach of a change in weather. The peasants seem to take advantage of the available light to finish their work before it darkens or rain arrives.

A narrow pink band crosses the sky and brings warmth to the whole. This glow relates to the golds and reddish tones of the ground, visually uniting the top and bottom parts of the scene. The light does not fall evenly, but selects certain zones: some trees, certain bundles and parts of the field appear more illuminated, while other places remain in deep shadow. This play of light and dark intensifies the atmosphere and gives the landscape a solemn character.

The work conveys a sense of quiet, but not of immobility. Although there are no machines, animals or large groups, the constant rhythm of human labor is felt. The already formed sheaves, the occupied figures and the field’s expanse speak of activity continuing for many hours. The scene invites us to imagine the sound of dry cereal, footsteps on the earth, wind among the trees and the occasional voices of the workers.

There is also a clear relationship between human beings and nature. The peasants depend on the land, the seasons and the climate, but at the same time they transform the landscape through their effort. The piles of cereal represent the fruit of that bond: they are the result of months of growth and a day of harvesting. The presence of the mountains and the sky reminds us, however, that nature remains much larger and more powerful than the people who work it.

The image also has a strong evocative character. It can awaken memories of a rural world based on manual labor, collaboration and knowledge transmitted between generations. The simple buildings, open fields and the figures bent over the harvest speak of a way of life closely tied to natural cycles. The scene does not fully idealize work, but it also makes its hardship visible, while recognizing its dignity and importance.

Overall, this precious painting represents a harvest day in a wide mountainous valley, where two peasants work among numerous sheaves of cereal under a cloud-covered sky. The field’s breadth, the presence of rural buildings, tall trees and distant mountains create a deep and enveloping scene. The work conveys effort, abundance, serenity and respect for rural life, turning a daily activity into an emotive celebration of the land, labor and the passing of the seasons.