Man Polishing a Boot

Vincent van Gogh, 1882

The artwork depicts a man shown from head to toe, positioned standing and leaning slightly forward as he polishes a boot. His facial features are drawn with simple lines, and he wears a cap and a long coat. His hands are focused on the boot he is holding. The man's clothing is heavy and utilitarian. A small table or counter is visible on the left, with a few indistinct objects on it. The background consists of sketchy lines suggesting a simple interior setting. The artwork is rendered in a monochromatic style using dark tones.
Artist
Vincent van Gogh
Date
1882
Type
Drawing
Medium
graphite and gray and black wash, heightened with white watercolor on wove paper, squared lightly with graphite
Dimensions
48.9 × 28 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

The artwork depicts a man shown from head to toe, positioned standing and leaning slightly forward as he polishes a boot. His facial features are drawn with simple lines, and he wears a cap and a long coat. His hands are focused on the boot he is holding. The man's clothing is heavy and utilitarian. A small table or counter is visible on the left, with a few indistinct objects on it. The background consists of sketchy lines suggesting a simple interior setting. The artwork is rendered in a monochromatic style using dark tones.

Vincent van Gogh