The artwork titled “Study of Two Peasants” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 while he was in Nuenen, Netherlands. This piece, executed using chalk on paper, is representative of the Realism movement and falls within the genre of sketch and study. It is currently housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork portrays two peasant figures engaged in manual labor, depicted in a naturalistic manner that emphasizes their robust physical form and the nature of their work. The subject’s attire and posture reflect the simplicity and hardship of rural life, characteristic of Van Gogh’s early focus on peasant studies. One figure is bent over, actively working, while the other stands with a tool, possibly taking a momentary pause. The sketching technique reveals Van Gogh’s interest in capturing the human form and movement with an economy of lines and shading, providing a sense of immediacy and authenticity to the scene.
