Hayfield

Allingham made her career painting rural scenes at a time when laborers were increasingly leaving the countryside to work in city factories. Like many of her landscapes, this peaceful scene of rural labor minimizes that reality. Figures stand still or move in gentle rhythm. The women’s bright white head scarves lend their clothing an old-fashioned appearance, as do their traditional farm implements. It is a nostalgic view—by this time, most farmwork was done with machines. The soft palette and feathery brushstrokes contribute to the idyllic quality of the scene (2022).