Peasant Woman, Head 1885

Vincent van Gogh drew this sketch of a peasant woman's head in the Netherlands, sometime before 1890. It's a quick study, a close-up that gives us an intimate view of the sitter. Van Gogh's choice of subject is key. During the 19th century, artists began to turn away from traditional subjects of portraits, namely the aristocracy. Instead, he focuses his attention on working-class people. We can understand this shift as part of a wider cultural interest in the lives of ordinary people and it reflects the social and political changes in Europe at this time. By focusing on the dignity and humanity of a peasant woman, Van Gogh elevates the social status of a class of people often overlooked in mainstream art. Art historians consult letters, biographies, and social histories to better understand an artwork's social and cultural context. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.