“At the Plough” is a Realism genre painting by Vincent van Gogh, created in 1884 in Nuenen, Netherlands. The artwork, currently held in a private collection, is executed using pencil and ink on paper, with its dimensions measuring 5.5 x 15 cm.
In the artwork, one observes a farmer engaged in the laborious task of plowing a field with the help of a yoked ox. The depiction is minimalist yet evocative, with well-defined strokes capturing the perseverance and toil inherent in agricultural life. The farmer is shown strenuously pushing the plough, while the ox, shackled at the neck, trudges forward as they collectively work the land. The background features a sparsely detailed landscape, emphasizing the central figures’ efforts against the expanse of agricultural land. The realism in this piece is conveyed through the raw portrayal of human and animal endeavor, rendered in muted tones that reflect the earthy nature of the scene.
