The artwork titled “Sheep-Shearers, The after Millet,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1889 while he resided in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, is an exquisite example of Post-Impressionist genre painting. Rendered in oil on canvas, this painting, measuring 43.5 by 29.5 cm, currently resides in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a vivid rural scene where two figures are engaged in the process of shearing a sheep. The dynamic brushstrokes and the use of vibrant colors are characteristic of Van Gogh’s signature style. One figure, dressed in a blue garment, leans over the sheep, delicately handling it while carefully shearing its wool. The other figure, attired in a reddish-brown outfit with a hat, assists in the process, their attire suggesting the laborious nature of farming tasks. The setting appears rustic with straw-covered shelters and a background hinting at a serene countryside. The expressive application of paint and the compositional arrangement emphasize the diligence and communal spirit of agricultural life, encapsulating a moment of ordinary yet poignant human activity.
