Peasant Woman Lifting Potatoes 1885

Vincent van Gogh created this ink drawing, "Peasant Woman Lifting Potatoes", while in the Netherlands between 1883 and 1885. Van Gogh was deeply moved by the lives of peasants and working-class people, and he sought to depict their dignity. During the late 19th century, rural laborers faced harsh conditions, and Van Gogh’s personal experiences with poverty and his strong social conscience led him to focus on these individuals. The woman is drawn from behind, emphasizing her laboring body. The potato harvest was a crucial part of the rural economy, and this woman's role in that process speaks to the labor and resilience of women. In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh wrote, "Oh those figures of miners... It wrung my heart to see them so worn and disfigured." Van Gogh's artistic practice aimed to uplift the lives and struggles of the working class, offering a visual representation that challenged the traditional, idealized portrayals of rural life. This drawing invites a deep emotional engagement, asking us to reflect on the lives of those whose labor sustains society.