The artwork titled “Peasant Woman, Head” is an exemplary piece by Vincent van Gogh, executed in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands. Rendered using chalk on paper, this sketch forms part of the Realism movement and belongs to the genre of sketches and studies. Currently, the artwork is housed in the prestigious Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork captures the visage of a peasant woman in a straightforward, unembellished manner typical of van Gogh’s Realism period. The woman is depicted with a scarf wrapped around her head, emphasizing the contours of her face and the simplicity of her attire. The sombre expression and closed eyes suggest a moment of contemplation or humility. Van Gogh’s adept use of chalk accents the textural contrasts and the raw dignity of his subject, reflecting the social conditions and lifestyle of peasants during that era.
