Van Gogh The Sower 1888

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The Sower 1888
Oil on Canvas
6480.5cm
Kroller-Museum,Otterlo
The Netherlands
The peasant sows the seed and the brilliant yellow sun let the artist speak in his own words

“I painted it at the height of the mistral [strong wind]. My easel was fixed in the ground with iron pegs, a method I recommend to you. You push the legs of the easel deep into the ground, then drive iron pegs fifty centimeters long into the ground beside them. You tie the whole lot together with rope. This way you can work in the wind. This is what I wanted to say about black and white. Take the sower. The picture is divided in two; one half is yellow, the upper part, the lower part is purple. Well, the white trousers help rest the eye and distract it just as the excessive contrast of yellow and purple starts to jar. There you are, that’s what I wanted to say.” —Vincent van Gogh, 1888