The piece of artwork “Peasant Shoes”, painted by the famous Vincent van Gogh, depicts a pair of shoes that belong to a person of the lower class. The state of the shoes suggests that this is a person who works very hard and has little money. Yet, the manner in which the painting is created is also critical to its meaning.
Van Gogh has used short, messy brushstrokes to give the painting a feeling of movement and of life. Van Gogh’s presence as the artist and creator of the piece is apparent each stroke of the brush can be seen, especially in the background. The colors he uses are also very significant. Van Gogh chooses rustic and earthy tones to render the image, therefore supporting the theme of peasantry and a rustic, simple lifestyle.
Through the rendering of this image, Van Gogh creates a backdrop into a realistic life of a hardworking peasant. The viewer receives a dynamic picture of every hardship and toil the wearer of the shoe has experienced. The wear and tear of the boots is significant, because it corresponds to the wear and tear of the peasant. The viewer can be connected to the peasant through the object of his shoes, a valuable, personal piece of the person.
The image Van Gogh has created is quite realistic; the shoes he has painted look very similar to actual, real boots in which a peasant would have worn. Yet, this painting is more than simply a reproduction of the real thing. Van Gogh has added his own feelings towards the poor community and the viewer adds their own interpretation to the piece as well.
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