The artwork, titled “Head of a Peasant,” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while he resided in Nuenen, Netherlands. Executed in oil on canvas, it exemplifies the Realism art movement and falls under the portrait genre. Currently, it is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum located in Otterlo, Netherlands.
In this painting, Van Gogh captures the rugged features of a peasant in profile view, emphasizing the stark and humble life of rural laborers. The artist employs restrained yet deliberate brushstrokes with a muted, earthy palette, highlighting the expressive contours and raw vitality of the subject’s face. The background remains simple and unobtrusive, drawing the viewer’s attention fully to the peasant’s visage, encapsulating the essence of the subject’s character and the artist’s empathy towards the working-class individuals.
