The artwork titled “Peasant Woman with Shawl over her Head, Seen from the Side” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while he was in Nuenen, Netherlands. Rendered with chalk on paper, this piece falls within the Realism movement and is classified as a sketch and study. Currently, it is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
In the artwork, Vincent van Gogh has depicted a peasant woman standing in profile, enveloped in a heavy shawl that obscures much of her facial features and clothing beneath. The sketch is noted for its simplicity and minimalism, with thick, expressive strokes of chalk that vividly capture the texture of the shawl and the rugged, stoic demeanor of the woman. The monochromatic scheme and the coarse detailing emphasize the mundane yet poignant reality of rural life, which is characteristic of Van Gogh’s early works focused on peasant life. The woman appears introspective and resigned, exuding a quiet strength while remaining deeply rooted in her environment.
