The artwork titled “Peasant Lifting Potatoes” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands. Rendered with chalk on paper, this piece belongs to the Realism movement and falls into the genre of sketch and study. Currently, the artwork is housed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In the artwork, a solitary peasant is depicted engaged in the strenuous task of lifting potatoes. The scene is captured with a raw authenticity typical of Realism, portraying the physical labor and rugged life of peasantry. The chalk medium brings a rough texture and fluidity to the composition, emphasizing the peasant’s sturdy build and the earthiness of the task. The figure’s posture and the simplicity of the lines communicate a profound sense of realism and immediacy, making this sketch a poignant study of rural life and labor.
