The reaper was a significant game changer and marked a certain significance to the Agricultural Revolution in America. It was used by horsepower to make the harvesting process easier for farmers, creating less labor-intensive work. Dali’s work is completely opposite to this, instead the figure moves backward from the reaper and harvests the grain manually with a scythe as the reaper forebodes him.
This work is part of the "Hommage a Leonardo da Vinci" portfolio (Great Inventions), which is full of Dalí's fantastical creations made as a sincere and very personal tribute to the artists Renaissance idol, Leonardo da Vinci. The suite of 12 original engravings, combined with colour by pochoir and etchings, compels art-lovers across the globe to reflect on the many achievements of both masters. The two artists shared many interests including their passion for not only fine art, but a variety of scientific topics, including physics, engineering, and arithmetic. Their dynamic, multi-faceted personalities pushed them to undertake an abundance of creative projects, many of which diverge from artist inquiry and instead centre around invention and innovation.