The artwork titled “Woman by the Wash Tub in the Garden,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands, is a chalk and pencil sketch on paper. Measuring 32 x 26.4 cm, this piece belongs to the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of sketch and study. The artwork currently resides in a private collection.
In the artwork, a rural scene unfurls, displaying a woman absorbed in the act of washing clothes in a garden. The use of chalk and pencil creates a monochromatic depiction, emphasizing texture and form. The woman, dressed in simple attire, is bent over a wash tub, engrossed in her chores. The background showcases a line of laundry hung on a fence, evoking a sense of daily life in the countryside. The scene is intimate and devoid of embellishment, aligning with the Realism movement’s aim to portray ordinary life without idealization. The artwork not only demonstrates van Gogh’s attention to humble, everyday subjects but also his skillful rendering of human effort and routine within a rustic setting.
