Kettle Over a Fire, and a Cottage by Night 1885

Vincent van Gogh made this drawing using pencil on paper, a method that allowed him to rapidly capture the essence of a domestic scene. The simple material of graphite is used here not for careful rendering but for capturing the rough textures and volumes of the objects. The weight of the iron kettle is palpable, made apparent through the density of the pencil strokes, while the fleeting nature of the fire and smoke are evoked with lighter, more gestural marks. The utilitarian, everyday objects are imbued with a sense of dignity through the artist's focused attention. The labor associated with the objects and the scene – the cooking, the tending of the fire, the maintenance of the home – is subtly referenced through the weightiness of the drawing. By elevating these humble subjects, Van Gogh blurs the boundaries between the fine arts and the crafts of daily existence. In doing so, he invites us to see the inherent value and beauty in the often-overlooked aspects of working-class life.