“Farmer with Straw Hat,” an artwork created by Vincent van Gogh in 1888 while he was in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, is a notable piece from the Post-Impressionism movement. This portrait, rendered in ink on paper, measures 49.5 by 37.9 centimeters and is currently housed in the Fogg Museum (Harvard Art Museums) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The artwork portrayed here is characterized by meticulous detailing, capturing the essence of the farmer through intricate lines and pointillist techniques. The farmer’s face is marked with visible lines that suggest a life of toil and resilience, highlighted under the shadow of a prominent straw hat. Van Gogh’s use of ink allows for distinct, bold strokes, creating a textured background that contrasts with the more detailed rendering of the subject’s face and clothing. The expression of the farmer communicates a sense of stoic endurance, true to the Post-Impressionist style that Van Gogh championed. The use of line work to depict light and shadow adds a dimensional quality to the portrait, emphasizing the farmer’s rugged features and the worn nature of his attire.
