The artwork titled “Fisherman with Sou’wester, Sitting with Pipe” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1883, during his time in The Hague, Netherlands. It is crafted from a mix of materials including chalk, pencil, wash, and ink on paper, and it embraces the Realist movement. Depicted in the genre of a portrait, this piece of art beautifully captures the essence of a fisherman and is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The image shows a fisherman dressed in a Sou’wester, a waterproof hat typically worn by seafarers in rough weather. He is seated with a pipe in his mouth, suggesting a moment of repose or contemplation. The fisherman’s clothing appears to be well-worn and practical, consisting of a buttoned jacket and sturdy boots, hinting at a life shaped by hard work and the sea. Van Gogh has used a subdued palette to emphasize the mood and character of his subject, and the man’s posture, with a forward lean and the weight shifted onto one arm, further contributes to the impression of a brief, reflective pause in the fisherman’s day. The background is indistinct, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the figure and the rugged details of his attire, face, and hands. Through the use of strong, deliberate lines and shading, van Gogh conveys texture and depth, imbuing the portrait with a sense of realism and humanity.
