À propos de l’œuvre
Excavateur, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · August 1885 · Nuenen
The Digger, F166Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
A farmer leans with all his weight on his tool. His blue-green jacket receives a flash of lightning on his shoulder and forearm, while his face and hand turn dark red; legs apart and curved back make the effort immediately readable.
Look at the work
Work can be read in the tension of the whole body
The head projects forward, almost in line with the handle. The left arm is brought against the stomach, the right arm goes down to the handle and both legs establish an oblique base at the bottom of the format.
The place remains deliberately small: ocher brown soil, a few green passages and a dark background. All attention is thus paid to the movement of the peasant and the contrasts of his rough outfit.
The Bêcheur F166/JH850 is a 45.4 × 31.4 cm oil on canvas painted in Nuenen in August 1885. The original is kept at the Kroeller-Müller Museum under number KM 102.175.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
Van Gogh does not correct the figure according to academic rules. On the contrary, it amplifies useful deformations: a very round back, angular limbs and a compact pose make the work more visually true.
The entire silhouette describes a push towards the ground
The back, handle and right leg lead the gaze along several descending diagonals. The peasant seems caught in the middle of the gesture rather than posed in front of the painter.
The illuminated shoulder gives volume to the fabric
Light green focuses on the upper arm and darkens towards the torso. Large touches make you feel the roughness of the work clothing.
Facial red expresses warmth and fatigue
The forehead, cheek and hand are constructed of almost black red earth. These warm accents emerge from the background and give a human center to the dark mass.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
References F166/JH850, the KM 102.175 inventory and the vertical format of 45.4 × 31.4 cm identify this study of peasant work.
Van Gogh wants the digger to actually be digging
For him, the modern peasant figure must be defined by his action. Posture, leg support and grip on the tool take precedence over ideal anatomy.
The differences in proportion are deliberately expressive
Van Gogh admits not following academic correction. He seeks transformations of reality capable of appearing more accurate than his literal copy.
Jean-François Millet remains his great model
Van Gogh considers the peasant and the worker to be the heart of modern art, and places Millet at the forefront of this work-worthy representation.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy should restore the curve of the back, the grip on the handle, the spacing of the legs, the blue-green light of the shoulder and the dark reds of the face and hands.
- The diagonal of the curved back towards the tool
- The large light green area on the shoulder
- The red-brown face under the dark cap
- The two hands separated on the handle
- Legs spread which support the figure
Work sheet
| Title | The Digger, F166 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | August 1885 |
| Place of creation | Nuenen |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 45.4 × 31.4 cm |
| Inventory | F166 · JH850 · KM 102.175 |
| Conservation | Kroeller-Müller Museum, Otterlo |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A working figure with muted greens, red earths and colored black
Fir green, gray blue, earth red, ocher and black brown make up a powerful canvas for an office, a workshop or an interior with raw materials.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The public domain image has been converted to a true WebP of 1764 × 2550 px in its original resolution, without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
