The artwork, entitled “Two Sketches of a Man Leaning on His Spade,” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1867 in Zundert, Netherlands. Belonging to the Realism art movement, this piece falls into the genre of sketch and study.
The artwork consists of two detailed sketches, each depicting a man in a standing position, identified as leaning on a spade. Rendered in a monochromatic palette, the man is shown from behind in both sketches. He is dressed in work clothing, which includes a cap, a long coat, and sturdy shoes. The man’s posture varies slightly between the two sketches, in an attempt to capture different nuances of the laborer’s stance. The simplicity of the composition is characteristic of a study, focusing on form and posture without the complexity of a detailed background. The use of light and shadow in the sketches helps to convey the volume and texture of the man’s clothing, adding depth and a sense of realism to the artwork.
