Weaver 1884

Vincent van Gogh created "Weaver" using a reed pen and ink, a medium that lends itself to the stark portrayal of labor and life in the Netherlands. Van Gogh's choice to depict a weaver is deeply rooted in his commitment to representing the lives of the working class. During the Industrial Revolution, the mechanization of labor threatened traditional crafts. Van Gogh was interested in capturing a disappearing way of life. He wrote about weavers and their craft: “They are so absorbed in their work that they live as if in a dream. They have something peculiar and strange about them.” Consider the dignity with which Van Gogh portrays the weaver; this is no mere illustration of labor, but an intimate glimpse into the life of a man whose identity is inextricably bound to his craft. The work reflects Van Gogh's empathy for those on the margins of society.