Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace

Vincent van Gogh

Created:
Movement:
1885
Realism
key Notes:
Rustic domesticity, Earthy tones
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Dimensions:
17 3/8 x 15 in. (44.1 x 38.1 cm)
medium:
Oil on canvas
Difficulty:
Easy
New game
story of the work:

"Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace" is a painting created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 during his early artistic career in the Netherlands. The work reflects van Gogh's interest in the lives of rural laborers and the themes of peasant life, which he explored in several pieces during this period. The painting depicts a solitary woman engaged in the act of cooking, emphasizing the simplicity and hardship of peasant existence. Van Gogh's use of earthy tones and expressive brushwork conveys a sense of warmth and intimacy in the domestic setting. This artwork is part of a series of works that highlight the dignity of labor and the connection between humanity and the land. The painting is currently housed in the collection of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Specific details about its provenance prior to entering the museum's collection are not widely documented.

Description of the work:

"Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace" is an oil on canvas painting created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885. The composition features a solitary female figure engaged in the act of cooking, positioned in front of a large fireplace. The woman is depicted in a traditional peasant dress, characterized by earthy tones that reflect her rural environment. The warm glow of the fire illuminates her face and the surrounding space, creating a contrast between light and shadow. The background is rendered with loose brushwork, emphasizing the texture of the walls and the rustic setting. Van Gogh's use of color is subdued, dominated by browns, reds, and ochres, which evoke a sense of warmth and intimacy. The painting exemplifies Van Gogh's early interest in the lives of peasants and the dignity of labor. The overall mood is one of quiet domesticity, capturing a moment of everyday life.

Artwork Photograph Source:
Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace