The Sower
Currently on view
Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Arles, November 1888
oil on canvas, 32.5 cm x 40.3 cm
Credits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Van Gogh had a special interest in sowers throughout his artistic career. All in all, he made more than 30 drawings and paintings on this theme. He painted this sower in the autumn of 1888. At the time, Van Gogh was working together with Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). Gauguin believed that in his work Van Gogh should draw less on reality and more on his imagination.
Here, Van Gogh used colours meant to express emotion and passion. He assigned the leading roles to the greenish-yellow of the sky and the purple of the field. The bright yellow sun looks like a halo, turning the sower into a saint.
- F-number
- F0451
- JH-number
- JH1629
- Object number
- s0029V1962
- Dimensions
- 32.5 cm x 40.3 cm, 48.5 cm x 56.3 cm, 7.5 cm
- Provenance
- With his brother Theo van Gogh, Paris, after May 1889; after his death on 25 January 1891, inherited by his widow, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, and their son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, Paris; administered until her death on 2 September 1925 by Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Bussum/Amsterdam/Laren; given on loan by Vincent Willem van Gogh, Laren to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, since 22 October 1931; transferred by Vincent Willem van Gogh on 10 July 1962 to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation, Amsterdam; agreement concluded between the Vincent van Gogh Foundation and the State of the Netherlands, in which the preservation and management of the collection, and its placing in the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, to be realized in Amsterdam, is entrusted to the State, 21 July 1962; given on loan until the opening of the museum on 2 June 1973 to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; on permanent loan to the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh from 2 June 1973 and at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, since 1 July 1994.
- artist
- Vincent van Gogh
- Credits (obliged to state)
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Detroit, Detroit Institute of Arts, Van Gogh in America, 2 October 2022-22 January 2023, no. 42
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Kleur als Taal. Etel Adnan, 20 May-4 September 2022, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, 'Je liefhebbende Vincent'. Van Goghs mooiste brieven, 9 October 2020-10 January 2021, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh inspireert. Jean-Luc Mylayne, 11 September 2020-14 February 2021
Saint Louis, Saint Louis Art Museum, Millet and Modern Art: From Van Gogh to Dalí, 16 February-7 September 2020, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Jean-François Millet. Zaaier van de moderne kunst, 4 October 2019-12 January 2020, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh & Japan, 24 March-24 June 2018, no. zonder nr.
Kyoto, National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), Van Gogh & Japan, 20 January-4 March 2018, no. zonder nr.
Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Van Gogh & Japan, 24 October 2017-8 January 2018, no. zonder nr.
Sapporo, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Van Gogh & Japan, 26 August-15 October 2017, no. zonder nr.
Paris, Musée d'Orsay, Au-delà des étoiles. Le paysage mystique, 14 March-25 June 2017, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Munch : Van Gogh, 24 September 2015-17 January 2016, no. 77
Oslo, Munch Museum, Van Gogh + Munch, 9 May-6 September 2015, no. 77
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh aan het werk, 1 May 2013-13 January 2014, no. zonder nr.
Helsinki, Ateneum Art Museum, 52 sieula, 16 November 2012-17 February 2013, no. zonder nr.
Edinburgh, National Gallery of Scotland, Van Gogh to Kandinsky. Symbolist Landscape in Europe 1880-1910, 14 July-14 October 2012, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Gedroomde landschappen. Symbolisme van Van Gogh tot Kandinsky, 24 February-17 June 2012, no. zonder nr.
Nagoya, Nagoya City Art Museum, Van Gogh. The adventure of becoming an artist, 22 February-10 April 2011, no. 91
Fukuoka, Kyushu National Museum, Van Gogh. The adventure of becoming an artist, 28 December 2010-13 February 2011, no. 91
Tokyo, National Art Center, Van Gogh.The adventure of becoming an artist, 1 October-20 December 2010, no. 91
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Visiting Masterpieces: Vincent van Gogh's The Sower, 11 May-17 August 2010, no. zonder nr.
London, Royal Academy of Arts, The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and His Letters, 23 January-18 April 2010, no. 120
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en de kleuren van de nacht, 13 February-7 June 2009, no. 52
New York, Museum of Modern Art (New York), Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night, 21 September 2008-5 January 2009, no. 52
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en het expressionisme, 24 November 2006-4 March 2007, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, De keuze van Vincent. Van Goghs Musée imaginaire, 14 February-15 June 2003, no. 47
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en Gauguin. Het atelier van het zuiden, 9 February-2 June 2002, no. 80
Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, Van Gogh and Gauguin. The Studio of the South, 22 September 2001-13 January 2002, no. 80
Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Carnegie Museum of Art, Light! The Industrial Age, 1750-1900: Art & Science, Technology & Society, 1750-1900, 7 April-29 July 2001, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Licht! Het industriële tijdperk 1750-1900. Kunst en wetenschap, technologie & samenleving, 20 October 2000-11 February 2001, no. zonder nr.
Paris, Musée d'Orsay, Millet - Van Gogh, 14 September 1998-10 January 1999, no. 46
Tokyo, Seiji Togo Memorial Yasuda Kasai Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh and his time. Four seasons from the Van Gogh Museum and the H.W. Mesdag Museum, 12 September-11 November 1997, no. 7
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Japan : Van Gogh's Utopia, 7 June-22 September 1991, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh & Millet, 9 December 1988-26 February 1989, no. 75
Ōsaka, National Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh from Dutch collections. Religion, humanity, nature, 21 February-31 March 1986, no. 58
Nagoya, Nagoya City Art Museum, Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 21 December 1985-2 February 1986, no. 65
Tokyo, National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo), Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 12 October-8 December 1985, no. 65
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Van Gogh in Arles, 18 October-30 December 1984, no. 128
The Hague, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Kunstenaren der idee. Symbolistische tendenzen in Nederland, ca. 1880-1930, 15 September-27 November 1978, no. nr. 16
Bern, Kunstmuseum (Bern), Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 25 January-15 April 1973, no. 25
Strasbourg, Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain Strasbourg, Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 22 October 1972-15 January 1973, no. 25
New York, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 14 February-4 April 1971, no. 41
San Francisco, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 11 December 1970-31 January 1971, no. 41
Baltimore, Baltimore Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 11 October-29 November 1970, no. 41
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 28 February-5 April 1970, no. 41
Saint Louis, City Art Museum of Saint Louis, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 20 December 1969-1 February 1970, no. 41
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 14 October-1 December 1969, no. 41
London, Hayward Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings of the Vincent van Gogh Foundation Amsterdam, 23 October 1968-12 January 1969, no. 140
Gothenburg, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Vincent van Gogh. Målningar, akvareller, teckningar, 30 December 1965-20 February 1966, no. 39
Ghent, Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Gent), Vincent van Gogh. Schilderijen, aquarellen, tekeningen, 19 February-28 March 1965, no. 23
Charleroi, Palais des Beaux-Arts (Charleroi), Vincent van Gogh. Schilderijen, aquarellen, tekeningen, 9 January-9 February 1965, no. 23
New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 2 April-28 June 1964, no. 35
Washington, Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 2 February-19 March 1964, no. 35
Humlebaek, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Vincent van Gogh. Malerier og tegninger, 24 October-15 December 1963, no. 35
Kansas City, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 7 February-26 March 1963, no. 47
Detroit, Detroit Institute of Arts, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 11 December 1962-29 January 1963, no. 47
Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Carnegie Institute, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 18 October-4 November 1962, no. 47
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 22 March-29 April 1962, no. 47
Buffalo (New York), Albright Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 30 January-11 March 1962, no. 47
Cleveland, Cleveland Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 5 December 1961-14 January 1962, no. 47
Baltimore, Baltimore Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, Watercolors and Drawings, 18 October-26 November 1961, no. 47
Utrecht, Centraal Museum, Vincent van Gogh schilderijen en tekeningen, verzameling Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 18 December 1959-1 February 1960, no. 43
Aix-en-Provence, Pavillon de Vendôme, Vincent van Gogh en Provence, 3 October-30 November 1959, no. 19
Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 7 March-19 April 1959, no. 54
Portland (Oregon), Portland Art Museum (Oregon), Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 28 January-1 March 1959, no. 54
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 10 December 1958-18 January 1959, no. 54
San Francisco, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 6 October-30 November 1958, no. 54
Mons, Museum voor Schoone Kunsten, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Son art et ses amis, 22 March-5 May 1958, no. 27
Deventer, De Muntentoren, Schilderijen van Vincent van Gogh, 31 January-20 February 1958, no. 23
Schiedam, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Vincent van Gogh, 21 December 1957-27 January 1958, no. 29
Leiden, Museum De Lakenhal, Vincent van Gogh, 9 November-16 December 1957, no. 29
Marseille, Musée Cantini, Vincent van Gogh, 12 March-28 April 1957, no. 51
Breda, Cultureel Centrum De Beyerd, Vincent van Gogh, 2-24 February 1957, no. 56
Rotterdam, Volksuniversiteit (Rotterdam), Vincent van Gogh in Arles. Collection Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 21 December 1956-3 January 1957, no. 9
Fries Museum, Vincent van Gogh uit de collectie Ir. V.W. van Gogh, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 14 April-13 May 1956, no. 30
Newcastle upon Tyne, Laing Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 11 February-24 March 1956, no. 50
Manchester (England), Manchester City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 17 December 1955-4 February 1956, no. 50
Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 29 October-10 December 1955, no. 50
Antwerp, Zaal Comité voor Artistieke Werking, Vincent van Gogh, 7 May-19 June 1955, no. 255
New Orleans, Isaac Delgado Museum, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, 27 March-20 April 1955, no. 17
Miami, Lowe Gallery of the University of Miami, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, 24 February-20 March 1955, no. 17
Palm Beach (Florida), Society of the Four Arts, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, 21 January-13 February 1955, no. 17
Willemstad, Curaçaosch Museum, Vincent van Gogh, 19 December 1954-15 January 1955, no. 17
Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vincent van Gogh, 9 October-21 November 1954, no. 46
Bergen-op-Zoom, Stadhuis Bergen op Zoom, Vincent van Gogh, 23 December 1953-10 January 1954, no. 8
Assen, Provinciehuis, Vincent van Gogh in Assen, 7-29 November 1953, no. 20
IJmuiden, Hoogovens, restaurant Walserij Oost, Vincent van Gogh. Exposition in the canteens of the Royal Netherlands Blast Furnaces and Steelworks, 2-12 October 1953, no. 24
Hoensbroek, Kasteel Hoensbroek, Vincent van Gogh, 23 May-27 July 1953, no. 42
Zundert, Parochiehuis, Vincent van Gogh in Zundert, 30 March-20 April 1953, no. 25
Eindhoven, Van Abbemuseum, Vincent van Gogh, 22 March-4 May 1952, no. 49
Enschede, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Vincent van Gogh, 20 February-16 March 1952, no. 51
Alkmaar, Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar, Tentoonstelling schilderijen van Vincent van Gogh, 1 December 1951-1 January 1952, no. 16
Nijmegen, Waaggebouw, Tentoonstelling schilderijen van Vincent van Gogh, 3-26 November 1951, no. 16
Grenoble, Musée de Grenoble, Vincent van Gogh, 30 March-2 May 1951, no. 43
Lyon, Musée de Lyon, Vincent van Gogh, 5 February-27 March 1951, no. 43
Hilversum, Raadhuis Hilversum, Tentoonstelling Vincent van Gogh, 7 October-5 November 1950, no. 32
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh Paintings and Drawings. A Special Loan Exhibition, 21 October 1949-15 January 1950, no. 85
Bolsward, Stadhuis Bolsward, 19e eeuwse kunstschatten uit het Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 3-28 May 1949, no. zonder nr.
The Hague, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Vincent van Gogh. Collectie ir. V.W. van Gogh, 12 October 1948-10 January 1949, no. 132
Oslo, Kunstnernes Hus, Vincent van Gogh, 24 April-15 May 1948, no. 36
Bergen (Norway), Kunstforening, Vincent van Gogh, 23 March-18 April 1948, no. 36
Glasgow, City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 21 February-14 March 1948, no. 56
Birmingham (England), City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 24 January-14 February 1948, no. 56
London, Tate Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 10 December 1947-14 January 1948, no. 56
Groningen, Museum van Oudheden, Vincent van Gogh, 18 October-16 November 1947, no. 63
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Vincent van Gogh, 14 September-1 December 1945, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Vincent van Gogh. Werken uit de verzameling van Ir. V.W. van Gogh, in bruikleen afgestaan aan de Gemeente Amsterdam, 14 February 1931-1931, no. 69
Utrecht, Vereeniging Voor de Kunst, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen door Vincent van Gogh, 1 May-5 June 1929, no. 34
Leipzig, Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig, Vincent van Gogh. Fünfunddreißig unbekannte Gemälde aus Privatbesitz, 24 February-31 March 1929, no. zonder nr.
Munich, Graphisches Kabinett (München), Vincent van Gogh. Fünfunddreißig unbekannte Gemälde aus Privatbesitz, 22 November-24 December 1928, no. 25
Hannover, Kestner-Gesellschaft, Vincent van Gogh. Fünfunddreißig unbekannte Gemälde aus Privatbesitz, 3 October-11 November 1928, no. zonder nr.
Dresden, Staatliche Gemäldegalerie, Internationale Kunstausstellung, 12 June-30 September 1926, no. 213
The Hague, Pulchri Studio, Tentoonstelling Vincent van Gogh, 21 March-26 April 1925, no. 53
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Tentoonstelling van Nederlandsche Beeldende Kunsten, Regeeringsjubileum 1898-1923, September-14 October 1923, no. 127
New York, Montross Gallery, Vincent van Gogh Exhibition, 23 October-31 December 1920, no. 47
Cologne, Kölner Kunstverein, V. van Gogh, July-August 1914, no. zonder nr.
Berlin, Kunstsalon Paul Cassirer, Vincent van Gogh 30. März 1853 - 29. Juli 1890. Zehnte Ausstellung, 1 June-5 July 1914, no. 51
Bydgoszcz, Königliche Preussische Handwerker- und Kunstgewerbeschule, Vincent van Gogh, 25 October-20 November 1913
Essen, Handwerker- und Kunstgewerbeschule, Vincent van Gogh, September 1913
Dresden, Galerie Ernst Arnold, Ausstellung Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, February 1912, no. 20
Breslau, Galerie Ernst Arnold, Ausstellung Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, February 1912, no. 20
Bremen, Kunsthalle Bremen, Zonder titel, 6 December 1911-8 January 1912, no. zonder nr.
Hamburg, Galerie Commeter, [Vincent van Gogh], 11 October 1911-January 1912, no. 27
Amsterdam, Larensche Kunsthandel, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen en teekeningen van Vincent van Gogh, 16 June-14 August 1911, no. 41
Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurter Kunstverein, V. van Gogh Ausstellung, 14-28 June 1908, no. 36
Munich, Moderne Kunsthandlung, Vincent van Gogh, March-April 1908, no. 31
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Cent tableaux de Vincent van Gogh, 6 January-1 February 1908, no. 49
Middelburg, Sociëteit Sint Joris, Tentoonstelling van werken van Vincent van Gogh (verzameling mevr. Cohen Gosschalk), 25 March-1 April 1906, no. zonder nr.
Rotterdam, Kunstzalen Oldenzeel, Tentoonstelling Vincent van Gogh, 26 January-28 February 1906, no. 34
Leiden, Leidsche Kunstvereeniging, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen door Vincent van Gogh, 7-16 October 1905, no. 37
Utrecht, Vereeniging Voor de Kunst, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen door Vincent van Gogh, 9 September-2 October 1905, no. 37
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Tentoonstelling Vincent van Gogh, 15 July-1 September 1905, no. 113
The Hague, Arts and Crafts, John Th. Uiterwijk & Co., Exhibition of the paintings. Vincent van Gogh in the art-gallery Arts and Crafts, 17 October-December 1898, no. 22
[15 Grammofoonplatenhoezen met afbeeldingen van schilderijen van Vincent van Gogh in kleur]