The artwork titled “Peasant Woman Stooping and Gleaning” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1885 during his time in Nuenen, Netherlands. This piece, executed using chalk on paper, reflects the Realism movement and belongs to the genre of sketch and study. The artwork is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum located in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork presents a peasant woman bent over as she gleans. The figure’s pose, bent at the waist and reaching towards the ground, demonstrates the arduous labor of gleaning. She is depicted wearing simple, voluminous clothing, indicative of her rural peasant status. The strokes of the chalk convey a sense of the weight and texture of her garments. The minimalist background accentuates the focus on the woman’s painstaking work, emphasizing the dignity and endurance of her daily toil. The drawing encapsulates van Gogh’s empathetic portrayal of the peasantry, reflecting his interest in the lives of ordinary working people.
