The Sower

Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Arles, November 1888

oil on canvas, 32.5 cm x 40.3 cm
Credits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Please note: This painting is on view in the exhibition Van Gogh & Japan until 24 June 2018.

Van Gogh had a special interest in sowers throughout his artistic career. All in all, he made more than 30 drawings and paintings on this theme. He painted this sower in the autumn of 1888. At the time, Van Gogh was working together with Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). Gauguin believed that in his work Van Gogh should draw less on reality and more on his imagination.

Here, Van Gogh used colours meant to express emotion and passion. He assigned the leading roles to the greenish-yellow of the sky and the purple of the field. The bright yellow sun looks like a halo, turning the sower into a saint.

F-number

F0451

JH-number

JH1629

Object number

s0029V1962

Credits (obliged to state)

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Dimensions

32.5 cm x 40.3 cm, 58.5 cm x 56.5 cm