The artwork titled “Peasant Digging,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands, is an oil painting on canvas. It forms part of the Realism movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. Presently, this notable work is housed at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a peasant, captured in the midst of physical labor, bent over and engrossed in digging. The figure is rendered with visibly powerful brush strokes, emphasizing the physical toil and earnestness of the peasant’s work. The use of dark and earthy tones dominates the scene, signifying the somber and austere reality of rural life during the period. The interplay of light and shadow draws attention to the muscular definition and the labor-intensive activity, honoring the dignity and resilience of the peasant class. The painting encapsulates van Gogh’s deep empathy towards the working class and his interest in capturing the essence of their everyday struggles.
