Peasant Woman Seated by a Hearth (Woman Peeling Potatoes)
Painting on panel or canvas laid on panel • Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890)
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / Realism (Nuenen Period)
Medium & Technique
Oil painting with thick impasto, visible broad brushwork, and atmospheric chiaroscuro
Creation Period
circa 1885
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 40 cm; landscape format
Subject Description
A seated peasant woman, likely Gordina de Groot, shown in profile engaged in domestic labor by a hearth. The composition features a low-key palette, emphasizing the harsh reality of rural life through heavy shadows and a singular warm light source from the fire.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair; surface shows significant craquelure, potentially due to heavy impasto and age-related drying
Estimated Market Value
$1,500,000 - $3,000,000
Auction Estimate
$1,000,000 - $2,500,000
Provenance History
Likely originated from the artist's Nuenen period, passing through the Van Gogh family or early Dutch collectors; requires physical inspection of the reverse for gallery labels
Art Historical Significance
A critical example of Van Gogh's early development in Nuenen where he focused on the 'truth' of peasant life, leading up to 'The Potato Eaters'. It demonstrates his early obsession with light, shadow, and the dignity of manual labor.
Notable Features
The distinctive 'earthy' palette typical of the Dutch period; heavy, sculptural application of paint in the highlights of the fire and the woman's cap.
Condition Issues
Visible craquelure across the upper left and center; surface grime; possible minor paint losses near edges; aged varnish yellowing
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning, stabilization of flaking paint (consolidation), and UV-filtered glazing for protection