“Peasant Woman Sowing with a Basket” is a remarkable example of Realism created by Vincent van Gogh in 1881, while he was in the Netherlands. The artwork, rendered using chalk and watercolor on paper, serves as a genre painting, capturing scenes from everyday life. It belongs to a private collection, preserving its historical and artistic value.
The artwork depicts a solitary peasant woman engaged in sowing, holding a basket in one hand. She is dressed in simple attire, signifying her humble status and connection to rural life. The overall tone of the piece is muted, with Van Gogh employing a limited color palette that enhances the sense of austerity and realism. The background is relatively plain, with a few bare trees and an open field, underscoring the focus on the figure and her toil. The simplicity of the composition, combined with the detailed observation of the subject, showcases Van Gogh’s early style and his empathy towards the rural working class.