Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) Painter, tortured soul.
Like many painters in France in the latter part of the nineteenth century, Van Gogh often chose as his subjects ordinary people doing ordinary things--including women, young and old, knitting. Following are what I believe to be all his known paintings and sketches of knitters. As always, click the images to embiggen.
Girl Sitting, Knitting 1882 and Girl Standing, Knitting 1882
Woman at the Window, Knitting sketch 1882
Van Gogh often included sketches in his letters, particularly in his letters to his brother, Theo, as here.
Woman at the Window, Knitting watercolor 1882
I have not been able to find a color version of this painting, and as the location of the original is unknown, this may be the only available image. I can only imagine the tiny splashes of color from buds of the emerging flowers in the pots on the windowsill. Yellow, I think.
Scheveningen Woman Knitting sketch 1881
Scheveningen Woman Knitting watercolor 1881
I enjoy comparing and contrasting the sketches and the painting of the same or similar subject.
Can you spot the common item in all five works where the knitter is seated--other than the knitting?
N.B. Scheveningen is a district of The Hague in the Netherlands.
I think the footstools are actually little foot warmers containing coal embers. Love reditions of knitters!
Posted by: Chris | March 09, 2012 at 07:41 AM
Do you remember a ditch picnic by the bridge at Arles?
Posted by: barb | March 18, 2011 at 04:26 PM
mmmmmm, warm feet and knitting! My favorite setting.
Posted by: auntiemichal | January 18, 2011 at 03:01 PM
Thank you again for beautiful art and insight. It's always a delight to visit here!
Posted by: Sandra D | January 13, 2011 at 02:20 PM
I also find it interesting how they are holding their needles. Is "dutch knitting" - with the needles sticking up that way, different from what I do - with the needles pointing down?
Posted by: Jenny | January 11, 2011 at 07:39 AM
Are they all wearing some sort of aprons? And I could use a stoof right now!
Posted by: lauragayle | January 10, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Very enjoyable post. A foot warmer sounds yummy.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: AlpacaKath | January 03, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Great post! I always learn something here ;-)
Today I learned what a Stoof is! I have the little pot, but not the box ...
HNY!
Posted by: cyndy | December 31, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Thanks for sharing all the pictures, Marcy. And Happy New Year!
Posted by: Rosemary | December 29, 2010 at 04:40 PM
Great post - love those pictures. Thanks, Bertie, for the added info. Nice to know their feet are being warmed.
Posted by: Julie | December 29, 2010 at 12:15 PM
The box under the women's feet is called a "stoof" in Dutch. It is made of wood, it has one open side and the other sides used to have holes in an ornamental pattern. In the box a small ceramic pot is placed containing glowing embers taken from the fireplace. In this way your feet won't suffer from the cold and the draught.
Lovely post!
Posted by: Bertie | December 29, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Are they all sitting on the same chair? Most of them have their feet on a box too... looks like the chair was built for someone taller. ;)
It's possible the black & white watercolour was actually a value study, and wasn't in colour.
Posted by: noricum | December 29, 2010 at 01:51 AM
Well, it could be that they all have their feet upon some sort of stool or is it that they are all knitting in the round?
Posted by: luneray | December 29, 2010 at 12:53 AM
I love knitters in artwork. Many don't realize how much women worked in the past. It was pretty much all the time. I always enjoy Habetrot.
Posted by: Margaret | December 28, 2010 at 05:24 PM
Yes! And I think I need one for my own use! I love the pictures, thank you!
Posted by: elizabeth | December 28, 2010 at 04:16 PM
I love the foot stools/ boxes/ steps! Helps to raise the lap up like a table. I find myself sitting with my feet on their tiptoes or on the rung of a chair while knitting. Great post and art!
Posted by: Manise | December 28, 2010 at 02:47 PM