À propos de l’œuvre
Le semeur II, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · October 1888 · Arles
The Sower, F494Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
A sower dressed in green crosses an immense yellow field and throws the seeds with a broad gesture. The houses, trees and sky are reduced to a narrow band, as if the entire web should belong to the sown earth.
Look at the work
A single human gesture sets the entire yellow expanse in motion
The peasant, placed slightly to the right of center, advances with a long stride. His right arm moves away from the body to disperse the seeds, while a dark seeder forms a small mass near his hip.
The furrows do not follow a regular perspective: curves, commas and blue lines run through the field in several directions. In the distance, a few trees and houses are enough to locate the plain around Arles.
The Sower is an oil on canvas of 72 × 91.5 cm painted in Arles in October 1888. Referenced F494/JH1617, the work belongs to the Hahnloser/Jaeggli Stiftung and is presented at the Kunstmuseum Bern.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
Van Gogh takes up a motif that has fascinated him since his Dutch years, but here he frees it from Millet's chiaroscuro. The yellow field becomes an autonomous surface, almost entirely covered with colored signs.
The figure appears small but controls the entire composition
Its diagonal and open pitch contradict the long horizontals of the landscape. The gaze constantly returns to the arm which distributes the seeds.
Yellow is never a uniform range
Ocher, lemon, beige and brown are crossed with blue and purple. These complements give relief to the field without resorting to conventional shade.
The very high horizon transforms the earth into the main subject
The sky occupies only a thin strip. Buildings and trees become tiny landmarks facing the fertile expanse that fills almost the entire frame.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
F494/JH1617 and the large format of 72 × 91.5 cm identify this version without monumental sun, distinct from the numerous Sowers with setting sun painted by Van Gogh.
A sketch sent to Theo preserves the exact composition
In letter 714, Van Gogh draws the sower, the striated field and the thin horizon line. The scientific notice directly links this sketch to F494/JH1617.
Paul Gauguin particularly appreciated this new Sower
Shortly after Gauguin's arrival in Arles, Van Gogh wrote that his companion enjoyed several studies, including Le Semeur, Les Tournesols and La Chambre.
For Van Gogh, the sower is an enduring symbol of work and life
He has known the famous composition of Jean-François Millet for a long time, but here changes the scale, the color and the relationship between the figure and the field.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must retain the small green figure in full stride, the gesture of the arm, the countless yellow and blue marks of the field, the curved furrows and the very thin horizon.
- The green sower placed slightly to the right
- The outstretched arm that distributes the seeds
- The yellow furrows crossed by blue and purple
- Little houses on the horizon
- The strip of blue-gray sky at the top
Work sheet
| Title | The Sower, F494 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | October 1888 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 72 × 91.5 cm |
| Inventory | F494 · JH1617 |
| Conservation | Hahnloser/Jaeggli Stiftung, Kunstmuseum Bern |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A vast yellow surface animated by the rhythm of the gesture and the furrows
Wheat yellow, ocher, blue gray, olive green and muted purple bring powerful warmth to a living room, dining room or large wall of character.
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 best available documentary reproduction was preserved at its native definition of 2,200 × 1,704 px then encoded as a real WebP, 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.
