Artwork
Head of a Young Peasant in a Peaked Cap
Head of a Young Peasant in a Peaked Cap is an oil painting by the Realist artist Vincent van Gogh. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Vincent van Gogh’s 1885 oil painting presents a tightly cropped view of a rural laborer. The work focuses on the sitter’s head, emphasizing the dark, pointed cap and the textured facial features rendered with vigorous brushwork. The portrait is part of the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a young peasant, identifiable by his simple cap and modest attire, suggesting a life tied to agricultural labor. His solemn expression and direct gaze convey a sense of dignity and resilience, reflecting van Gogh’s interest in portraying the inner character of ordinary people.
Technique & Style
Van Gogh employs thick impasto, applying paint in dense layers that give the skin a palpable relief, especially around the nose and forehead. The bold, uneven strokes create a play of light and shadow, enhancing the three‑dimensional quality of the portrait while retaining the artist’s expressive, post‑Impressionist sensibility.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1885, the painting remained in private hands before entering the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s holdings. Its acquisition by the museum placed it among other works from van Gogh’s early Dutch period, offering insight into his developmental phase prior to his later French period.
Context
Created during van Gogh’s formative years in the Netherlands, the portrait aligns with his focus on peasant subjects, a theme also explored in works such as "The Potato Eaters." This period marked his commitment to depicting the lives of the working class with honesty and emotional depth.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Continue through works from the same source collection.
