Postcard with Two Peasants Digging 1885

This postcard, likely created in the 1880s by Vincent van Gogh, is executed in pen and ink on paper, humble materials for a quick sketch and message. The cross-hatching and energetic lines create a sense of movement in what is a scene of toil. Look closely, and you'll see two figures digging in a field, their bodies bent in labor. The quick, sketch-like quality of the image, with the figures roughly drawn, speaks to the hard work of rural laborers and Van Gogh’s interest in portraying their daily lives. It shows that his artistic practice was rooted in an almost anthropological observation of the working classes, using accessible and portable materials. The subject matter is indicative of his desire to use his art to bring attention to those on the margins of society, and the social issues of labor and rural life. This postcard challenges any hierarchy between fine art and the lives of ordinary workers, using simple materials to elevate the everyday.