Artwork
The Sower III (version 1)
The Sower III (version 1) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.
About this work
Overview
Vincent van Gogh’s oil on canvas titled *The Sower III (version 1)* was painted in 1888. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. It presents a solitary figure scattering seed across a cultivated field, set against a luminous, yellow‑toned sky and a stark, leafless tree in the distance.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, shown from behind in dark attire, is captured in the act of sowing, a traditional symbol of labor and renewal. By positioning the sower in the foreground, van Gogh emphasizes the rhythm of agricultural work and invites contemplation of humanity’s relationship to the land.
Technique & Style
Executed with vigorous, expressive brushwork, the painting balances bold strokes with a relatively restrained palette of earth tones and bright sky hues. The contrast between the dark silhouette of the sower and the radiant background creates a dynamic visual tension, characteristic of van Gogh’s late‑1880s style.
History & Provenance
Created during van Gogh’s productive Arles period, the canvas later entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to early 20th‑century acquisitions, reflecting the museum’s commitment to representing the artist’s pivotal works from this formative year.
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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.
