Two Men Tying a Bundle (recto)

In September 1883 Van Gogh left the bustling Dutch city of The Hague in search of open countryside in which to paint. He moved to Drenthe, a village in northeastern Netherlands that was virtually untouched by the Industrial Revolution. He described the barren terrain as supremely beautiful and serene: "What tranquility, what expanse, what calmness in this nature." With a limited palette of steely greens and cool blues, Van Gogh masterfully portrayed one of the region’s expanses of heath—"a vast plane vanishing into infinity"—illuminated by the lilac hues of the evening sky.

A horizontally oriented red chalk and graphite drawing on off-white paper depicts two light-skinned men working over a large bundle. On our left, a standing man in a head covering bends forward, torso twisting. To our right, another figure kneels, reaching toward the center. Delicate red and gray lines define their forms and focused gestures, emphasizing their physical interaction with the task against a sparse, stained background.

Two Men Tying a Bundle (recto)

1600s

Anonymous

France, 17th century

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork

Artwork Page for Two Men Tying a Bundle (recto)

Details / Information for Two Men Tying a Bundle (recto)