The Sower Outskirts of Arles in the Background 1888

Painted in 1888 by Vincent van Gogh, "The Sower Outskirts of Arles in the Background" depicts a sower working a field in a dramatic and expressive style characteristic of the artist. The vibrant yellow sky, deep blue furrows, and the sower’s bold, almost exaggerated figure are rendered with swirling, impasto brushstrokes, lending the scene a sense of energy and movement. The inclusion of the distant factory in Arles provides a stark contrast to the rural scene, hinting at the industrialization that was changing the landscape of France at the time. This oil on canvas painting currently resides in the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.