About “Farmer at Rest”
Farmer at Rest (2003) by Mark Beard is a large-scale figurative drawing that shows a worker reclining in a moment of pause. The figure wears a wide-brim hat, suspenders, and heavy boots. His head tilts back, and his face sits partly in shadow. The pose feels both relaxed and quietly heroic.
The composition is built around strong foreshortening. One leg projects forward, and the body angles across the sheet. This creates depth and gives the drawing a bold, immediate presence.
Technique and Surface
The work is executed in pencil, charcoal, and pastel on paper. Pencil sets the main contours and structure. Charcoal deepens the shadows and anchors the weight of the figure. Pastel adds softness and light, especially in the highlighted areas.
The paper’s warm tone is part of the image. It acts like a middle value throughout the drawing. On top of it, Beard layers darker hatching and bright white touches. This method makes the body feel solid without overworking the surface.
Light, Shadow, and Colour
Light is handled in clear blocks. Bright accents describe the chest, shoulder, and the top planes of the legs. The darkest passages sit under the hat brim and along the lower body. These contrasts create drama, but they stay believable.
The pastel highlights feel like reflected light on skin. They also add a sense of heat and air. The overall palette remains restrained. That restraint strengthens the drawing’s realism and mood.
Pose and Character
The figure’s posture suggests rest after effort. The suspenders and boots reinforce the “working body” theme. The hat adds a strong silhouette, and it hides the eyes. This makes the character feel private and self-contained.
At the same time, the viewpoint is daring. The foreshortened leg and tilted torso push toward the viewer. The result is intimate, almost cinematic. You feel close to the subject, as if entering his space.
Artistic Context
Images of labourers and rural workers have long appeared in European and American art. They often carry ideas of endurance, dignity, and daily routine. Beard’s drawing sits within that tradition, but it stays contemporary in style. The visible construction lines keep it direct and alive.
This also connects to the wider return of figurative drawing in the early 2000s. Many artists re-embraced the studio figure. They valued touch, process, and physical presence. Farmer at Rest reflects that mindset clearly.
Dimensions, Condition, and Markings
The sheet measures 76.2 × 56.8 cm. The framed dimensions are 99.50 × 79.50 cm. The work is in an excellent state of conservation.
It is signed and dated 2003. The model’s name is written at the top. These details underline its studio origin and its documentary clarity.
The subject recalls classic images of workers at rest. It also echoes academic figure studies, updated through bolder cropping and stronger contrast. In technique, it relates to large charcoal-and-pastel drawings where highlights are “drawn” as much as shadows. The mix of toughness and vulnerability is central. It is a portrait of a body, and also of a role.
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