Coal Shoveler 1879

Van Gogh made this drawing, Coal Shoveler, with chalk and charcoal, humble materials that befit the subject. You can almost feel the rough texture of the paper, catching the strokes of the artist’s hand as he built up this monumental figure. The choice of these materials is itself significant. While oil paint was traditionally seen as the premier medium for fine art, van Gogh was drawn to these more immediate, graphic tools. This choice mirrors his deep concern for the working class, those who toiled daily in the mines and fields. Look closely, and you’ll see how the charcoal captures the grit and grime of labor, the very dust of the coal that these workers breathed in every day. It’s as though he wanted to get as close as possible to their experience through his own artistic process, elevating the everyday lives of laborers to a place worthy of respect and attention. This piece is a testament to the power of drawing, and the social significance of craft.