Vincent Van Gogh The Potato Eaters
In this paper, I will evaluate two artworks that share the theme of “everyday life”, and I will
also consider a contemporary expression that reflects the given theme portrayed in both artworks.
More specifically, I will focus on how each painting is a realistic representation of a family's
everyday life. The first painting is by Jan Steen and is titled The Merry Family and was created
in 1668 and in this painting, it depicts a boisterous family gathering or possibly dinner. The
second painting is by Vincent van Gogh and is titled The Potato Eaters. It was created in 1885
and displays the life of a peasant family and outlines the lifestyle that these individuals had to
endure in this time period such as: living in a small …show more content…
The Merry Family gives us a glimpse of everyday life in the Golden Age by how
people acted at home and showing how the middle-class people were celebrating among
themselves but they seem to be making fools of themselves.
The Potato Eaters was painted during the Post-Impressionist period in Europe. Artwork during
the Post-Impressionist period emphasized: “their emotions and personal responses in their
paintings, which consequently were more expressive and figurative in nature” (MindEdge).
During this period, painters used “bright colors and expressive forms” to depict “emotion ”
(MindEdge). In the Potato Eaters, we can see how the painter utilizes colors that are particularly
dull such as brown and black which gives the artwork a melancholy feeling. By examining this
artwork, the people in the painting have experienced hard labor under the sun because of the way
the artist use earthy like colors to convey a realistic feeling in the painting. Additionally, this
painting is sensible and non-misrepresented, as it serves to demonstrate the daily life of peasant
family after a hard working day. In Vincent van Gogh painting, The Potato Eaters, he uses an …show more content…
The Potato Eaters display the
everyday life of peasants by expressing how these individuals worked hard labor judging by their
facial expression, and then are able to come home to a well-deserved meal.
Merry Family and Potato Eaters were created during two very different time periods, in two
different styles, and with two different intents. At the heart of their differences is the subject
matter they choose to represent: the realistic representation of everyday life among families. It’s
important to look more closely at how each artist chooses to represent this idea and what this
significance is in these differences. The depiction of everyday life is different between Merry
Family and Potato Eaters because in Merry Family we see a family gathered around
celebrating among themselves but they are doing a lot of immoral things such as drinking and
smoking. However, the Potato Eaters illustrates the life of a peasant's family as they gathered
around a table and have their dinner. Both Merry Family and Potato Eaters are different in the
way they portray the everyday life of families because of the economic status that they
also consider a contemporary expression that reflects the given theme portrayed in both artworks.
More specifically, I will focus on how each painting is a realistic representation of a family's
everyday life. The first painting is by Jan Steen and is titled The Merry Family and was created
in 1668 and in this painting, it depicts a boisterous family gathering or possibly dinner. The
second painting is by Vincent van Gogh and is titled The Potato Eaters. It was created in 1885
and displays the life of a peasant family and outlines the lifestyle that these individuals had to
endure in this time period such as: living in a small …show more content…
The Merry Family gives us a glimpse of everyday life in the Golden Age by how
people acted at home and showing how the middle-class people were celebrating among
themselves but they seem to be making fools of themselves.
The Potato Eaters was painted during the Post-Impressionist period in Europe. Artwork during
the Post-Impressionist period emphasized: “their emotions and personal responses in their
paintings, which consequently were more expressive and figurative in nature” (MindEdge).
During this period, painters used “bright colors and expressive forms” to depict “emotion ”
(MindEdge). In the Potato Eaters, we can see how the painter utilizes colors that are particularly
dull such as brown and black which gives the artwork a melancholy feeling. By examining this
artwork, the people in the painting have experienced hard labor under the sun because of the way
the artist use earthy like colors to convey a realistic feeling in the painting. Additionally, this
painting is sensible and non-misrepresented, as it serves to demonstrate the daily life of peasant
family after a hard working day. In Vincent van Gogh painting, The Potato Eaters, he uses an …show more content…
The Potato Eaters display the
everyday life of peasants by expressing how these individuals worked hard labor judging by their
facial expression, and then are able to come home to a well-deserved meal.
Merry Family and Potato Eaters were created during two very different time periods, in two
different styles, and with two different intents. At the heart of their differences is the subject
matter they choose to represent: the realistic representation of everyday life among families. It’s
important to look more closely at how each artist chooses to represent this idea and what this
significance is in these differences. The depiction of everyday life is different between Merry
Family and Potato Eaters because in Merry Family we see a family gathered around
celebrating among themselves but they are doing a lot of immoral things such as drinking and
smoking. However, the Potato Eaters illustrates the life of a peasant's family as they gathered
around a table and have their dinner. Both Merry Family and Potato Eaters are different in the
way they portray the everyday life of families because of the economic status that they