“Peasant Woman with Spade” is a chalk on paper artwork created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while in Nuenen, Netherlands. This sketch and study piece, which falls under the Realism movement, captures a vivid portrayal of peasant life. It is currently housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a peasant woman in a bent posture, holding a spade with both hands. The woman’s attire and stance suggest she is engaged in agricultural labor, highlighting the physical demands placed upon her. Van Gogh’s use of chalk renders the subject with strikingly bold lines and deep shadows, emphasizing the textures of her worn clothing and the furrows of her determined expression. The simplicity of the medium allows for a raw and evocative portrayal, adding to the realism and emotional depth captured in the piece.
