The Noordbrabants Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch: for Vincent, figure studies of farmers working in the fields symbolised the unity of humankind with nature. He painted this peasant woman bent forward sharply to emphasise the dynamism of digging: he considered depicting the action to be essential and modern. This work was intended to form part of a series on rural life. A canvas from Van Gogh’s (ultimately uncompleted) dining room decoration for the Hermans’ house in Eindhoven illustrates how a figure of a working farmer would function within a larger composition.
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