The Potato Eaters, 1885

Vincent van Gogh painted the picture in April-May 1885, at Nuenen, where van Gogh’s parents had lived since 1883.  Vincent lived there for two years 1884 and 1885. At that time he had already done 250 drawings and 190 paintings.

He finished The Potato Eaters in September-October 1885.

He had been working on the composition for several months. In December1884, he began painting portraits of peasants in the area with the idea and producing a picture of group of them in an indoor setting.

Vincent wanted to paint peasants in their own surroundings. He sought the motif for this study in the heart of the people, and he wanted to draw that motif as it really was.

The Potato Eaters depicts a simple, domestic scene. In a humble, wooden house, five people are seated around the table, helping themselves to a plate of boiled potato.

He sent The Potato Eaters to his brother Theo into Pairs. For Vincent it was a success independently from the reception of the work. He had painted it exactly as he had wanted to paint it.
The Potato Eaters, 1885