The artwork titled “Woman with Baby on her Lap, Half-Length” was created by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh in 1883 while he was in The Hague, Netherlands. This portrait, executed in chalk on paper, belongs to the Realism movement and is held in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
This compelling piece depicts a solemn woman, draped in dark attire, cradling a baby on her lap. The woman’s expression is one of profound introspection, perhaps reflecting the struggles and emotional weight of maternal responsibilities. The monochromatic medium of chalk adds a stark, raw quality to the piece, enhancing the intensity of the subject’s emotions. The artwork captures a tender yet poignant moment, emphasizing the themes of motherhood and the human condition through Van Gogh’s realistic stylistic approach. The figures are rendered with meticulous attention to detail, and the use of shadow and light accentuates the depth and realism of the portrait.