The Sower done in 1888 by Vincent Van Gogh is an aesthetically pleasing piece. The works in progress explains the immense concentration, thought, consideration, and passion that went into the creation of this piece. It describes the many letters that Van Gogh wrote to various people. At one point in his creation, he wrote that the "excessive" contrast between the yellow and the violet shadows on the field would necessarily "irritate" the beholders eye. He also contemplated making the sowers trousers white in an effort to create a place in the painting that would "allow the eye to rest and distract it." I am a little shocked to learn that the artist is giving so much concern to pleasing the viewer. Also, I am fascinated to learn that a Van Gogh spent so many days contemplating his next step. When I picture Van Gogh creating The Sower over a century ago, I see a man working in front of an easel. He works with a speed and swiftness that gives the appearance that the decisions that are going to go on paper are determined by his hand, not a deep and thought out plan for the final product. The description of Van Gogh's letters show that he genuinely cared how the viewer would feel about The Sower. I think that this is in a way an example of the artist breaking away from the creative process and factoring in the views of people other than him. .
We will analyze The Sower as shown in both Fig 108 and 109. In the oil on canvas in Fig 108, the painting is beautiful. The house and the birds that are omitted from Fig 109 bring life to the painting. The house in the background seems to give the sower a purpose. He seems to be walking swiftly as though he has a job to do. The house represents his purpose; it tells the viewer that he will be back. Whereas if you look at the drawing in Fig 109, the sower looks as though he is wandering aimlessly without a destination or a purpose. The sun that is very visible in both figures looks almost unrealistic and childlike.
