At the Fountain (1916)

Ernst Schiess's evocative painting "At the Fountain" from 1916 captures a serene rural scene steeped in daily activities surrounding an old community water source. This artwork, painted with a soft, impressionistic touch, focuses our attention on a moment of unassuming grace and quiet interaction among the figures depicted.The setting is painted with broad, fluid brushstrokes, emphasizing the lush greens and earthy tones of a rural landscape. Trees punctuate the scene, their foliage rendered in dappled hues, creating a canopy over the central activity. The eye is drawn to a young woman in a white dress, patiently holding a vessel under the fountain, which is fashioned from simple, old-darkened metal. Beside her, a woman with auburn hair, likely a local villager, interacts or assists in the process.On the left side of the painting, a child in muted tones runs across the fields, seemingly playing or perhaps carrying out another chore, adding a dynamic element to the static scene of water gathering. Meanwhile, on the right, a figure in dark clothes sits solemnly, observing or waiting their turn, a study in contrast both in mood and in the color palette against the bright openness of the scene.Schiess captures not just the physical activity of drawing water but also a sense of community and the rhythm of everyday life.