Head of a Woman 1883

Editor: Here we have Van Gogh’s “Head of a Woman,” created in 1883 with charcoal. The stark contrasts immediately draw me in, it feels very somber. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Well, first off, notice the texture. The roughness of the charcoal application is deliberate, pointing to Van Gogh's interest in representing the lives of the working class. This isn’t some idealized portrait for the bourgeoisie. Consider the labor involved, both the woman's and Van Gogh's own, in depicting such a subject. The hat itself, the 'bonnet', implies domestic labor, a very different context of the art world than portraits commissioned by the wealthy. Editor: That makes me consider how accessible charcoal would have been, a readily available material versus expensive paints. Was he making a statement by choosing it? Curator: Absolutely. Think about what it meant to choose such a humble material. Van Gogh’s artistic process mirrors the lives he was trying to depict. By using charcoal, he connects his work directly to the daily struggles and realities of this woman, making her, her tools and the picture a part of a similar labor that might have not ended up framed for someone to stare at a hundred years later. The medium becomes as important as the message. How might it affect the viewer’s understanding, had Van Gogh used oils instead? Editor: It would completely shift the reading of the artwork; oil paint might suggest that the subject is wealthy. Charcoal feels…honest. I hadn’t thought about the material contributing to that narrative so directly. Curator: Exactly. So it’s about more than just aesthetic skill, but thinking about how an artist actively shapes meaning by the labor, tools, and materials that are utilized to represent working class folks. Editor: That’s a fascinating insight! Looking at it that way really changes how I appreciate Van Gogh’s intention.