The Weary Ploughman

Samuel Palmer

Etching on chine collé

National Gallery of Art

This luminous etching depicts a weary herdsman driving a pair of oxen homeward along a country lane as the moon rises low on the horizon, its light partly obscured by clouds. Created by Samuel Palmer, a key figure in British Romanticism who was profoundly influenced by William Blake, this print showcases his mastery of atmospheric effects and his ability to imbue rural scenes with mystical intensity. The work represents Palmer's late career return to the bold, imaginative experimentation of his youth, making it a captivating piece that brings timeless pastoral beauty and contemplative mood to any space.