The artwork titled “Peasant Woman, Pitching Wheat or Hay” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands. This piece is executed in chalk on paper and belongs to the Realism art movement. It is classified as a sketch and study and is currently housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum located in Otterlo, Netherlands.
In this poignant and simple sketch, a female peasant is depicted in the act of pitching wheat or hay. The woman is captured in mid-motion, her body slightly bent forward as she grips a long-handled rake. She is dressed in a humble, plain garment typical of rural workers from the period, with an apron and a cap that obscure some of her features. The lines and shading deftly illustrate the texture of her clothing, the effort in her posture, and the sparse surrounding environment. The artwork is a testament to van Gogh’s acute observation and empathy for the working class, encapsulating the daily toil and quiet dignity of the peasant woman.
