The artwork, titled “Olive Picking,” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1889 while he was in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the Post-Impressionism movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. Currently, it resides in the Basil P. and Elise Goulandris Collection in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In “Olive Picking,” van Gogh captures a vivid and dynamic scene of agricultural labor. The painting depicts two figures, a man and a woman, engaged in the activity of picking olives from the trees. The man stands on a ladder, reaching into the branches with a basket, while the woman stands below, assisting in the collection process. The artist’s characteristic use of swirling, expressive brushstrokes animates the foliage and the sky, infusing the scene with a sense of movement and life. The earthy tones of the landscape contrast beautifully with the vibrant greens of the olive trees, highlighting van Gogh’s masterful ability to convey emotions and natural beauty through color and technique. The overall composition reflects the harmony between human effort and the serene yet lively environment in which they work.
