Planting (Spring Plowing), a vibrant watercolor and graphite on paper by Thomas Hart Benton, circa 1939-40, embodies the artist’s signature Regionalist style. The work depicts a rural scene where two figures toil in a field, one guiding a plow pulled by a donkey, the other carrying a bucket, sowing seeds under a bright, cloud-streaked sky. The rolling, richly hued earth, painted in warm browns and oranges, contrasts with the lush green foliage and distant trees, while a small structure sits at the horizon, grounding the composition in everyday life. Benton’s dynamic lines and fluid brushwork capture the rhythm of labor and the vitality of spring, infusing the scene with a sense of movement and purpose.  

The reverse image of this artwork was transformed into a lithograph in 1939, with notable examples housed in prestigious museum collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Chazen Museum of Art. This print adaptation underscores the piece’s cultural significance, reflecting Benton’s influence on American art during the Depression era and the resonance of this particular subject celebrating the resilience and harmony of its people with nature. Created with a keen eye for detail and a deep connection to the land, Planting (Spring Plowing) showcases Benton’s ability to blend realism with his hallmark muscular style. It is accompanied by two letters written by Thomas Hart Benton to Lon Ramsey, its original owner, and bears an inscription by the artist on the verso.