Julien Beneyton’s work on today’s rural world offers an unprecedented series of portraits, remarkable for their accuracy and empathy towards those who rarely find themselves in the spotlight. His work pays tribute to these professions that continue to resist the relentless forces of globalisation, too often marginalised yet essential.

This book brings together 36 paintings and drawings devoted to the farming world, featuring farmers and livestock breeders whom Julien Beneyton spent long periods of time with, often in silence, accompanying them in their daily work. He captures moments of intimacy with people who are generally reluctant to express their emotions and feelings.

Terre promise is a large-format book that showcases the artist’s work to particular effect, allowing readers to appreciate the many intricate details of the works it contains.

An introductory text by Julie Crenn and an interview with Thomas Lévy-Lasne invite readers to explore Julien Beneyton’s series devoted to the farming world, offering insight into his working methods, artistic practice and approach.

As Julie Crenn writes here, Julien Beneyton “throws wide open the space of representation to those who, until now, have had to confine themselves to thresholds, borders (both physical and mental) and margins. In doing so, he rejects the dominant tradition, shifting the spotlight, unsettling the centre and making visible those on the periphery, who are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.”