The artwork, titled “Two Peasants Digging (after Millet),” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1889 in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. Executed using oil on canvas, this painting is a quintessential example of the Post-Impressionism movement. Measuring 72 by 92 centimeters, it belongs to the genre painting category and is currently housed in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts two peasant figures engrossed in the laborious task of digging in a field, a scene inspired by the works of the French painter Jean-François Millet. The figures are rendered with Van Gogh’s characteristic vibrant, swirling brushstrokes, which animate the earth and sky with dynamic motion and texture. The peasants’ clothing stands out with vivid hues of blue and white, contrasting against the rich earthy tones of the ground and hills. The sky, painted in sweeping strokes of blue and violet, emphasizes the vastness of the landscape while infusing the scene with a sense of vitality. The meticulous attention to the textures of both soil and sky highlights Van Gogh’s mastery in conveying the physical and emotional breadth of rural life.
