The artwork titled “Woman with Her Left Arm Raised,” created by the illustrious Vincent van Gogh in 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands, exemplifies the Realism movement. Executed with chalk on paper, this sketch and study is part of Van Gogh’s explorative works and is presently housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a woman adorned in rustic attire with her left arm slightly raised and her posture conveying a sense of resilience and fortitude. Van Gogh’s masterful use of chalk on paper vividly captures the textures and contours of her clothing and features, imbuing the sketch with a striking sense of realism and vitality. The earthy tones and rough lines reflect the artist’s detailed observation and empathetic portrayal of the human condition, consistent with the Realism art movement. The simplicity of the medium combined with Van Gogh’s expressive technique emphasizes the character and presence of the subject, forming an evocative and poignant piece in his extensive oeuvre.