Description
“The Potato Eaters” is an oil painting by Vincent Van Gogh, created in April 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands.
During March and April 1885, Van Gogh sketched studies for the painting and corresponded with his brother Theo, who wasn’t impressed with his current work or the sketches sent to him in Paris. Van Gogh began working on “The Potato Eaters” while living with his parents in Nuenen, a rural town populated by farmers, laborers, and weavers. He worked on the painting from April 13th until early May, with minor changes made later in the year using a small brush.
Van Gogh aimed to portray peasants authentically and deliberately chose rough and unattractive models, believing they would lend a natural and unspoiled quality to his finished work. In a letter to his sister two years later, he still considered “The Potato Eaters” his most successful painting. However, his friend Anthon van Rappard criticized the work soon after its completion, dealing a blow to Van Gogh’s confidence. He defended his work to his friend, expressing his determination to continue learning and improving as an artist.
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