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Pencil Drawing
28-08-2024 The Potato Eaters - in Pencil - 1885
I have been struck by this painting by Van Gogh for many
years, even long before I started drawing on this painter...
CONTEXT:
His perspective on the working reality is interesting, the simplicity of these
workers who are on the margins of society and poverty, yet providing for their
subsistence, working in very harsh and poorly paid environments.
The colors present in this work of the artist clearly convey to the observer a
difficult reality and fully transmit the 'sacrificed' context of life of those
years! Many versions of this painting were made by Van Gogh, however, this is
the final result, which was also taken up by other artists like Jozef Israëls.
Although the scene is different, the atmosphere is identical.
The people in this painting appear very 'worn out', perhaps old, although
considering the very harsh life they led, they could be young with a very 'worn'
appearance. The title of this work is really fitting, since potatoes, although
now a valued food, were at that time the primary food choice in the poorest
realities of the population.
Considering the setting of this gathering for a meal, it is interesting to note
the clock on the wall indicating it is past 12:30. If that moment were compared
to the same today, during a work break, it would not be so different. However,
who knows what the discussions were during lunch among those people?