The artwork titled “Peasants Planting Potatoes,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1884 in Nuenen, Netherlands, represents a genre painting executed in oil on canvas. This painting, significant within the Realism art movement, measures 66 by 149 cm and is currently housed at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
In this evocative piece, one can observe a group of peasants bent over in laborious activity, meticulously planting potatoes in the dark soil beneath a heavy, expansive sky. The artist captures the simplicity and hardship of rural life through somber tones and earnest postures, emphasizing the connection between the human figures and the land they are cultivating. The vast and muted landscape seems to stretch endlessly, enhancing the scene’s sense of timeless toil and quiet endurance. The subdued palette and down-to-earth subject matter highlight van Gogh’s keen observation of peasant life and his empathetic portrayal of their daily endeavors.
