The artwork titled “Orphans,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1882 in The Hague, Netherlands, is a pencil and ink drawing on paper that exemplifies the Realism art movement. This piece, categorized as a sketch and study, is currently housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a poignant and somber scene capturing the lives of orphans. It showcases two distinct groups of children. To the left, a closely-knit group of boys is delineated with expressive, dynamic lines, indicating movement as they walk, their heads bowed and some looking in different directions. Accompanying them is a stern-looking adult figure walking with a cane, dressed in dark, heavy clothing and a hat. On the right, a line of girls dressed similarly in light-colored dresses with dark sashes are seen walking in an orderly fashion, their heads also lowered. Behind them stands an elderly figure, bent with age and using a cane for support. The background features loosely sketched lines suggesting an enclosing fence, enhancing the enclosed atmosphere of the scene. The drawing’s simple, monochromatic palette and brisk, assured strokes emphasize the emotional gravity and realism underpinning Van Gogh’s study of these marginalized lives.
