Now, look, we all know Van Gogh? Who doesn't. But I think I, no wait I am sure we all know of Van Gogh's famous paitings. Or his preferred style of painting that often leaves people speechless. At least for me, that was what it was. But today I decided to pick a special painting that had something to do with my history chapter and something to do with the Irish thing. Well, what Irish Thing. You'll know in a little bit. keeo reading on! ➶➶➶➶➶ History Lesson➷➷➷➷➷ Now before we get on with all of this, let us first understand the historical significance of the entire painting ok? So...let's go back to Vincent's past alright? During March and the beginning of April 1885, Van Gogh sketched studies for the painting and corresponded with his brother Theo, who was not impressed with his current work nor the sketches Van Gogh sent him in Paris. He began working on The Potato Eaters while living with his parents in Nuenen, a rural town which was home to many farmers, labourers and weavers. He worked on the painting from 13 April until the beginning of May, when it was mostly done except for minor changes that he made with a small brush later the same year. Van Gogh would later on go to say that he wanted to depict the peasants as they were. Suffering. Coarse. Ugly Models. That's what he painted so it looked like unspoilt and natural. And for all of those who don't know what the Irish were suffering, the Great Famine would do you some good. Search up on it, please. 【｡_｡】Observe the Painting 【｡_｡】 1. The original oil sketch is at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, and he made lithographs of the image, which are held in collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The painting is considered to be one of Van Gogh's masterpieces. 2. Van Gogh used oil on canvas for this piece. He employed a dark color palette dominated by earthy tones, which was quite different from his later, more vibrant works. The colors are reminiscent of the dusty, unpeeled potatoes, emphasizing the rustic and harsh reality of peasant life. 3. Van Gogh deliberately chose a difficult composition to prove his skills as a figure painter. The figures have coarse faces and bony hands, reflecting their hard-working nature 4. Now it was special for several reasons. I. Realism and Emotion: Van Gogh aimed to depict the harsh reality of rural life. The peasants are shown in their modest home, sharing a simple meal, which highlights their connection to the earth and their honest labor. II. Symbolism: The coarse features and rough hands of the peasants symbolize their hard work and the authenticity of their lives. Van Gogh wanted to show that they had earned their food through their own toil. III. Criticism and Legacy: Initially, the painting received criticism for its dark colors and perceived technical flaws. However, it is now celebrated as one of Van Gogh's masterpieces, illustrating his ability to convey deep emotion and social commentary through his art.
Now, before I keep rattling on. I'd like to talk more on the criticism part. Now Van Gogh, from the accounts of doing this painting, stands out to me. As a revolutionary. In ways he painted what others did not want to see. Now his sister, Willemina considered his painting as one of his most successful. Why wouldn't they? The harsh realities were blatantly present to the naked eye. But then his best friend, Anthon Van Rappard criticised it. Bunch of old crooneys who don't want to mock the crown for all its wrong but slather it with praises. Anyways that aside he replied to his friend. "you... had no right to condemn my work in the way you did." Now as an artist (in my own profession, not an painting type), I'd see it as an offending remark too, that his friend mocked his masterpiece. But the reply I liked the best was the one he gave in August of 1885 "I am always doing what I can't do yet in order to learn how to do it." And you may not know why I like it, but the reason is quite simple. It says, no it proves that he believed in his actions, those that he did, even if people said that he could not do it. He could learn. That is the capacity of the human brain,
