American man holds pitchfork, symbolizing agrarian labor, in the Hondo Valley, New Mexico.
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines (also called prongs) used to lift and pitch (throw) loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines. Other similar types of fork may have up to six tines with different lengths and spacing depending on purpose. They are usually made of steel with a long wooden handle, but may also be made from wood, wrought iron, bamboo, alloy etc. In some parts of England a pitchfork is known as a prong[1] and, in parts of Ireland, a sprong refers to a 4 pronged pitchfork.[2] The pitchfork is similar to the shorter and sturdier garden fork. The pitchfork has frequently been used as a weapon by those who couldn't afford or didn't have access to more expensive weapons such as swords, or, later, guns.[3] As a result, pitchforks are stereotypically carried by angry mobs or gangs of enraged peasants. Arguably the most notable American artistic display of the pitchfork is in American Gothic, the painting by Grant Wood. In this painting it symbolizes hand labor.
Size: 3540px × 5320px
Location: Hondo Valley, New Mexico, USA, United States, America
Photo credit: © M L Pearson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: adult, agrarian, agriculture, america, education, farmer, farming, funny, hondo, humor, humorous, labor, male, mexico, portrait, prong, rancher, ranching, southwest, symbolic, symbolism, tourism, travel, usa, valley, west
