The artwork “Cottages with Three Figures” by Vincent van Gogh, created in 1890 in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, is a chalk on paper piece associated with the Post-Impressionist movement. The artwork is classified as a sketch and study and resides in a private collection.
In this piece, Van Gogh captures a pastoral scene with subtlety and economy of line. The artwork depicts three figures engaged in their activities amidst a backdrop of quaint, undulating cottages enveloped in expressive, rhythmic lines. There is a sense of motion and life infused into the simple strokes, characteristic of Van Gogh’s distinct style. The figures—one prominently holding a tool, suggesting labor—are rendered in a way that blends seamlessly with the swirling forms of the cottages and surrounding landscape, evoking a harmonious integration of human activity with the natural environment. The use of chalk on paper affords a soft texture to the scene, which adds to the tranquil yet dynamic overall impression.
