Peasant Woman Lifting Potatoes (1885; Nunen / Nuenen, Netherlands) by Vincent van Gogh

The artwork titled “Peasant Woman Lifting Potatoes” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while he resided in Nunen (or Nuenen), Netherlands. This piece, executed using chalk and ink on paper, belongs to the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of sketch and study. It is currently housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The artwork depicts a peasant woman bent over as she lifts potatoes from the ground, embodying the harsh physical labor associated with agricultural life. The monochromatic palette, composed of various shades of brown and dark lines, adds to the somber mood of the scene. The woman’s posture and the rough texture of her clothing are skillfully rendered, highlighting Van Gogh’s attention to detail and his deep empathy for the rural working class. In the background, indistinct lines suggest a windmill and barren trees, enhancing the rural setting without distracting from the main subject. The overall composition of the piece is both poignant and evocative, capturing a moment of toil and perseverance.

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