“Sower with Setting Sun,” painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1888 in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, is an oil-on-canvas work that measures 73.5 by 93 centimeters. This painting belongs to the Post-Impressionism art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. The artwork is currently housed at the E.G. Bührle Foundation in Zürich, Switzerland.
The artwork depicts a figure of a sower, silhouetted in dark tones, scattering seeds across an expansive field under the radiant and dominating presence of a large setting sun. The backdrop is bathed in rich, vibrant hues of yellow and orange, contrasting with the purple and blue of the field, which are demarcated by the earth’s furrows. The sun, nearly central to the composition, casts a warm glow over the entire scene, emphasizing the interplay between light and shadow. The presence of a tree with sparse leaves bending toward the sower suggests a gentle breeze and adds depth to the composition. This painting is symbolic of the cycle of nature and humanity’s enduring relationship with the land.
