The artwork titled “Peasant Woman by the Hearth” by Vincent van Gogh, created circa 1885 in the Netherlands, is an oil on canvas painting. It belongs to the Realism art movement and measures 29 by 40 cm. As a genre painting, it depicts a scene from everyday life and is currently housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
In the artwork, a solitary peasant woman is depicted seated by a hearth, her figure illuminated by the modest fire before her. The environment is rendered in deep, muted colors, primarily composed of greens and browns, which evoke a sense of solemnity and quietude. The subject, engrossed in her task—likely peeling potatoes or tending to some domestic chore—highlights van Gogh’s nuanced portrayal of rural peasant life. The hearth, a central feature in the composition, casts light and shadow, augmenting the intimate, almost contemplative mood. The brushstrokes are characteristically expressive, capturing the humble and serene dignity of the woman’s daily endeavor.
