China during the Cultural Revolution: a group of new, enthusiastic young agricultural workers from the city arriving at a farm. Colour lithograph after Sun Shunzheng, 1974.

The painting shows an idealized view of members of the 'educated youth' ('zhi shi qing nian') who were sent from urban areas to the countryside to labour as peasantry and for "re-education". It is springtime and a carriage full of spirited young people is arriving in the country. In the background, earlier arrivals are already working in full swing in the fields, with red flags indicating the different teams. On the carriage, the new arrivals are excitedly talking about the natural beauty of the wide world and the great ambitions which they wish to fulfil. The boy who is standing and the girl who is stretching out her hand are members of the Communist Youth League with the League’s badges. According to a less idealised view, the members of the 'educated youth' were forced to work in the countryside, often with inadequate preparation and in conditions of extreme hardship