Peasant Woman, Portrait of Gordina de Groot 1885

Vincent van Gogh rendered this portrait of Gordina de Groot in oil on canvas, employing a characteristically expressive and textured approach. Van Gogh uses the materiality of oil paint to full effect, applying thick impasto to capture the peasant woman’s likeness. The visible brushstrokes, directional and energetic, contribute to the emotional intensity of the work. The muted palette, dominated by earthy tones, reflects the rural environment and the working-class existence of the sitter. Consider the labor involved in the production of this portrait. The physical act of applying paint, the artist's intense focus, and the sheer amount of work embedded in each stroke. These elements elevate the image beyond a simple depiction, transforming it into a powerful statement about the dignity of labor. By attending to the making of art, we recognize the ways in which social and cultural meanings are embedded within the material itself.