About the original work
Van Gogh saw The Potato Eaters as a masterpiece. He chose a difficult composition to prove that he was on his way to becoming a good figure painter. The painting had to depict the reality of hard farm life. He therefore gave the peasants coarse faces and bony working hands. In this way he showed that they ‘with those hands that they put into the dish themselves have dug up the earth and (…) that they have earned their food so fairly’.
He painted the five figures in earthy colours, ‘almost the color of a well-dusted potato, unpeeled, of course.’ The message of the painting was more important to Van Gogh than correct anatomy and technical perfection. He was very satisfied with the result. However, his painting was critically received because it was so dark in color and the figures were full of errors. Today, The Potato Eaters is one of Van Gogh’s most famous works.
About the Artist
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. Born in 1853 in the Netherlands, van Gogh started his career as an art dealer before deciding to pursue painting at the age of 27. Despite struggling with mental illness and poverty throughout his life, van Gogh created some of the most celebrated works of art in history, including “Starry Night,” “Sunflowers,” and “The Potato Eaters.” His use of bold colors and expressive brushstrokes influenced countless artists and movements that followed, making him a seminal figure in the development of modern art. Van Gogh died in 1890 at the age of 37, but his legacy continues to inspire and captivate art lovers around the world today.
Additional information
This painting by Vincent van Gogh is reproduced as a Giclée using an advanced 12-color printer that sprays the pigment inks onto the canvas or paper, layer by layer. Due to this large color spectrum and the high resolution, the original is approached very closely.
The pigment inks used are UV-resistant, so that no discoloration can occur. The colors always remain beautiful and that is why we give an unlimited guarantee! You can order Giclees framed and unframed.
Copyright & Licensing
Original: oil on canvas, 82 x 114 cm
© Van Gogh Museum, license Artimedes B.V.
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