The Potato Eaters
1885
Vincent van Gogh wanted to show that the peasants eating their potatoes by the light of a dim oil lamp had tilled the earth themselves with the very hands they were using to eat. Painted in 1885 during his dark Dutch period, this moody masterpiece features rough, earthy tones and gnarled faces that reflect the harsh reality of rural life. He actually painted dozens of studies of these peasants' heads to get their rugged features just right before tackling this final, famous composition. It's a far cry from his later sunflowers, but it proves his incredible empathy for the working class.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
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