“Peasant with a Chopping Knife,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1881 in the Netherlands, is a piece of artwork rendered in chalk, pencil, and paper. This artwork belongs to the Realism movement and is classified as a sketch and study. It is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a peasant engaged in the act of chopping, with an emphasis on the figure’s activity and attire, characteristic of the Realism movement’s focus on ordinary people and everyday life. The artist employs a combination of chalk and pencil to detail the peasant’s clothing and posture with precision, capturing both the rough texture of his garments and the sturdy stance typical of manual labor. The simplicity of the lines and shading underscores the authenticity and rawness of the peasant’s experience, highlighting Van Gogh’s observational skills and dedication to portraying the working class with dignity and respect.