The artwork titled “Peasant Woman” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands. The medium utilized for this piece is chalk on paper. It belongs to the Realism art movement and serves as a sketch and study. Currently, the artwork is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum located in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork portrays a robust peasant woman captured in a candid, expressive pose. Van Gogh uses bold, dark strokes of chalk to shape the figure, emphasizing the contours and textures of her simple, heavy attire. The woman’s facial features are gently suggested, reflecting the artist’s interest in the earthy realism and character of rural life. Her stance, combined with the rich, shadowed lines, conveys a sense of solidity and strength. This piece exemplifies van Gogh’s commitment to depicting the dignity and resilience of the peasant class. The backdrop remains stark, focusing attention solely on the subject, thus reinforcing the study’s intent and meditative quality.
