The Potato Eaters is one of the most famous paintings by Van Gogh and, undoubtedly, the most significant regarding the expressionist phase in the production of the Dutch master.
The Potato Eaters, whose lithograph is currently on display at Palazzo Bonaparte, as part of the exhibition Van Gogh Masterpieces from the Kröller-Müller Museum running until March 26, was painted in 1885.
Van Gogh and the Theme of Poverty
The central theme of the canvas is undoubtedly that of poverty, which Van Gogh experienced firsthand due to his father’s profession as a Protestant preacher, who often interacted with the lower classes.
Vincent himself, before fully dedicating himself to art, followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a preacher. During that time, he frequently visited the working class, even visiting homes in the village of Nuenen.
The Potato Eaters: The Meaning of the Work and Its Style
Van Gogh’s goal was to “extract the subject from the very characters themselves.”
The meaning of the painting has indeed been explained by Van Gogh himself, who, in one of his letters to his brother Theo, admits to wanting to shed light on the extreme poverty in which Dutch peasants lived.
From a stylistic perspective, The Potato Eaters offers an extremely realistic representation of reality, where the subjects – the peasants – are not painted to be judged for their poverty or their “ugliness” but are simply an objective mirror of their condition.
Van Gogh: Painter of the Humble
The work represents the interior of a home.
The characters are captured at the moment of dinner, gathered at the center of the scene, around the table, illuminated by a dim oil lamp.
In the foreground is a girl seen from behind, whose face the viewer cannot see.
The other characters do not look at the viewer, keeping their gazes elsewhere, evasive: their attitude further enhances the feeling of having literally intruded on a family moment.
Surrounding the characters is the miserable dwelling, where some common objects stand out: the clock, utensils, a small painting.
In the canvas that Van Gogh paints with earthy and dark tones, the humility of the scene is reiterated.
The artist, in short, paints to give dignity to the peasants who eat what they have worked so hard for.
Are you interested in Van Gogh? You can learn more about the ongoing exhibition at Palazzo Bonaparte by clicking here: Van Gogh in Rome, 50 masterpieces from the Kröller Müller or if you want to stay updated on the latest must-see exhibitions in Rome, this might be for you: Rome, the main exhibitions 2023.
Want to discover all the other museums in Rome with works in their collection? Click here!
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