Content & Subject

Country Love is a rare, signed and numbered limited edition lithograph by beloved American folk artist P. Buckley Moss, created for the 1988 Kentucky Collectors Convention. This work is part of Moss’s celebrated Barn Collection, featuring the iconic round barn—a symbol of strength, endurance, and community that appears often in her paintings.

The composition shows a country couple standing in the snow. The woman, tenderly holding a bowl of eggs, represents renewal, nourishment, and the continuity of life. Beside her, the man carries a basket of apples, which symbolize love, abundance, and the rewards of hard work. Their unity in purpose reflects Moss’s deep appreciation of traditional values, family bonds, and the quiet dignity of rural living.

In the distance, a Holstein cow grazes near the round barn, grounding the scene in authentic farm life. The winter palette of cool blues and grays is softened by the warmth of purples and reds, giving the piece both serenity and vitality.

Symbolism of Eggs and Apples

• Eggs: In art and folklore, eggs symbolize fertility, hope, and new beginnings. Within the rural context of Moss’s work, they also represent the daily care and provision central to family life.

• Apples: Traditionally a symbol of love and abundance, apples also suggest harvest, nourishment, and a connection to the earth’s cycles. Together with the eggs, they create a pairing of renewal and sustenance, perfectly expressing the theme of “country love.”

Moss often infused her works with such symbolism, allowing her simple rural subjects to carry universal messages of faith, resilience, and affection.

Style & Technique

Moss’s hallmark style—elongated figures, folk-inspired simplicity, and symbolic detail—is beautifully showcased in this lithograph. The spare winter trees frame the couple without distracting from them, while the barn anchors the scene in history and permanence. The restrained color palette emphasizes quiet devotion rather than spectacle, drawing the viewer into the calm intimacy of the couple’s world.

Placement & Gift Ideas

This lithograph is ideal for spaces that celebrate family, tradition, and love:

• Living or Dining Room: A conversation piece reflecting heritage and warmth.

• Bedroom: A quiet, romantic addition.

• Entryway: A welcoming symbol of love and abundance.

It also makes a meaningful gift for weddings, anniversaries, or collectors of Moss’s Barn Collection.