Peasant with Sickle 1885

Vincent van Gogh drew this image of a peasant with a sickle in the late 19th century, using graphite or black chalk on paper. Van Gogh’s choice of subject speaks volumes. During this period, rural life in Europe was undergoing massive upheaval. Industrialization drew many away from the countryside, disrupting traditional agricultural practices. In his art, Van Gogh often turned to the working class, particularly peasants, for their authenticity. He saw in them a connection to the land and a simple, honest way of life that he felt was being threatened by modernity. Van Gogh was fascinated by the representation of labor. The way he captures the peasant's stooped posture suggests the weight of physical toil and the relentless demands of agricultural work. To understand Van Gogh’s artistic choices more fully, one could explore archives of letters, agricultural records, and sociological studies of rural life in 19th-century Europe. These resources provide insights into the social and economic conditions that shaped both the artist's vision and the lives of those he depicted.