The artwork “Harvest Scenes,” attributed to “Ancient Egypt” and dated approximately between 1422 and 1411 BC, belongs to the art movement known as the New Kingdom. Representing the genre of genre painting, this piece is part of the series from the “Tomb of Menna,” which spans circa 1422 to 1390 BC.
The artwork vividly portrays various agrarian activities characteristic of the New Kingdom period in ancient Egypt. The composition is a fresco that depicts a vibrant tableau of farmers and laborers engaging in the harvest. The scenes illustrate the systematic progression of harvesting activities, featuring figures in different stages of collection, transport, and measurement of crops. Men and women are depicted in attire typical of the era, efficiently performing their tasks with rudimentary tools, while a chariot and livestock signify the transportation aspect of agriculture. Hieratic poses and a hierarchical scale denote the importance and social status of each figure, meticulously recorded in the artistic style of the period with symbolic and practical function. The upper register focuses on the reaping and bundling of the crops, while the lower register provides a more detailed glimpse into the activities of threshing, winnowing, and record-keeping, emphasizing the communal and labor-intensive nature of harvest in ancient Egyptian society.
