The artwork, titled “Head of a Peasant with a Pipe,” is an exquisite oil on canvas portrait created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while he was in Nuenen, Netherlands. Exemplifying the Realism art movement, this piece is a portrayal of an ordinary peasant, capturing the ruggedness and day-to-day life of rural existence. The portrait can currently be viewed at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a middle-aged peasant man, characterized by a weathered face that reflects the hardships of rural labor. He is adorned with a black hat and a red scarf, elements that add a striking contrast to the otherwise muted tones dominating the piece. The man holds a pipe in his mouth, an object which not only serves as a focal point but also accentuates the contemplative expression on his face. The brushwork is dense and textured, typical of van Gogh’s style during this period, lending a sense of tactile reality to the sitter’s features. This piece stands as a testament to van Gogh’s ability to evoke profound human emotions through minimalist yet powerful compositions.