---
title: Emperor Joseph II at the Plow
author: Unknown Artist
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/22218/emperor-joseph-ii-at-the-plow/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
updated: 2026-09-30
---
# Emperor Joseph II at the Plow
_Authored by Unknown Artist_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/22218.jpg)
## Image Caption
Sign depicting Emperor Joseph II at the plow, oil on [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/), circa 1780-1790.
This painting commemorates Joseph II's furrowing of farmer Andreas Trnka's field in Slavikovice, Moravia, on the evening of 19 August 1769. The event, and the imperial plow itself, were memorialized and venerated, for it was not often that the Holy [Roman Emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/)'s own hands graced the labours of common folk.
Vienna Museum.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Artist, U. (2026, September 30). Emperor Joseph II at the Plow. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Artist, Unknown. "Emperor Joseph II at the Plow." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 30, 2026. .
### MLA
Artist, Unknown. "Emperor Joseph II at the Plow." *World History Encyclopedia*, 30 Sep 2026, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/en/object/60132-hauszeichen-zum-kaiseracker-7-kaiserstrasse-27-demoliert-aus-anlass-der-eroeffnung-der-westbahnlinie-dargestellt-ist-kaiser-joseph-ii-am-pflug/) by **Unknown Artist**. Submitted by [Zachary Kay](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/zacharykay/ "User Page: Zachary Kay"), published on 30 September 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0deed.en). This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.