Potato Eaters 1885

"The Potato Eaters" (1885), a lithograph by Vincent van Gogh, depicts a group of impoverished Dutch peasants gathered around a table, sharing a simple meal of potatoes. This powerful image captures the daily life of rural laborers and was inspired by the social realism of artists like Jean-François Millet. The dark, somber tones of the lithograph create a sense of realism and emphasize the hardships of their existence. Van Gogh's distinct brushstrokes, visible even in the print medium, give a textured and expressive quality to the figures and the humble surroundings. This work is a poignant depiction of the working class and remains a testament to van Gogh's early artistic style.