Sheep-Shearers, The after Millet 1889

Vincent van Gogh made "Sheep-Shearers, The after Millet" using oil paint in the late 1880s, during a period when he was deeply engaged with the work of Jean-François Millet. Van Gogh's interest in Millet, a painter known for his sympathetic portrayals of rural life, reveals much about his social concerns and artistic ambitions. In "Sheep-Shearers," we see figures engaged in the arduous task of shearing sheep, rendered with thick brushstrokes and earthy tones that emphasize the labor and the connection to the land. This focus reflects the broader 19th-century European interest in the lives of the working class. We could look into period sources, such as agricultural journals and social surveys, to understand better the realities of rural labor at the time. Also, the history of institutions like the art market and the rise of social realism influenced how artists chose their subjects and whom they sought to represent. Van Gogh's painting invites us to consider art's role in representing social realities and its potential to challenge or reinforce existing social norms.