Women Picking Olives

Women Picking Olives is an oil on canvas painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1889 during his voluntary residency at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This expressive work belongs to an important series of paintings documenting the olive groves surrounding the institution, a subject that Gogh revisited frequently, often depicting the trees throughout the changing seasons. The series as a whole exemplifies the artist's shift toward the vibrant colors and distinctive swirling brushstrokes that characterize his late period.

The painting demonstrates Gogh’s dynamic technique, where thick impasto defines the gnarled trunks of the Olive Trees and the heavily worked Provençal soil. The composition captures the essential connection between the laborers and the land. The figures of the Women, seen bending or standing, are actively engaged in the process of harvest, utilizing long wooden Ladders propped against the branches to reach the highest fruit. Gogh uses contrasting tones—deep indigo and greens in the foliage set against warm oranges and yellows in the ground—to heighten the visual intensity of the scene.

This work focuses on the dignity and rhythm of peasant life, a subject that interested Gogh throughout his career. The canvas, known for its emotional resonance and energetic application of pigment, is a highlight of the late Post-Impressionist collection. The painting resides today in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a major masterwork, high-resolution images of this piece are often found within the public domain, allowing for the widespread availability of fine art prints for enthusiasts and students globally.