Vincent Van Gogh The Potato Eaters

In this paper, I will evaluate two artworks that share the theme of “everyday life”, and I will

also consider a contemporary expression that reflects the given theme portrayed in both artworks.

More specifically, I will focus on how each painting is a realistic representation of a family's

everyday life. The first painting is by Jan Steen and is titled The Merry Family and was created

in 1668 and in this painting, it depicts a boisterous family gathering or possibly dinner. The

second painting is by Vincent van Gogh and is titled The Potato Eaters. It was created in 1885

and displays the life of a peasant family and outlines the lifestyle that these individuals had to

endure in this time period such as: living in a small
living area and having a limited amount of

food and drinks. Utilizing these two artworks, I plan to focus my comparison on how each

artwork portrays a different perspective on the everyday life of a family as they are gathered for

their family meal. Furthermore, I will consider how the artworks depict the values of a family

meal between two different time periods. I will also explore how this theme is expressed in

modern artwork, particularly Eric Mccandless’s What ‘Modern Family’ Says About Modern

Families.

The Merry Family was painted during the Dutch Baroque period in Europe. Artwork during this

period emphasized: “everyday objects and activities” (MindEdge). In the Dutch Baroque period,

the painters reflected “deliberate attention to detailed observation” by contrasting “between light

and shadow and also by the use of rich and deep colors” (MindEdge). In Merry Family, we can

observe that the painter is utilizing dark shading of colors, light shading of colors, and rich colors

to highlight the chaotic environment shown in this family as they gather around the dinner table.

The painter utilizes a delicate light shading as it touches the cloth covered table and falls over the

plain whiteness of the table cloth and the rich colored fabric of the mat that sits underneath it, in

order to give this painting a sense of a soothing feeling. Both of these instances in this work of

art acts as the only contemplated and sensible features in a generally chaotic and vigorous

painting. In addition, this painting uses a darker shading of color ideally in the upper right-hand

corner to demonstrate the significance of a note which says,"So father, so son" (Google Arts and

Culture). The darker shading of color is fundamental to the artwork since it highlights the moral

of the painting which is, "bad examples are quickly observed and picked up on" (Google Arts

and Culture). Almost all of Jan Steen's painting depict a theme of everyday life and he also

employs a moralistic style in his paintings, but with this painting he uses a note which quotes an

famous Dutch proverb to show that this painting is a warning against the consequences of a bad

upbringing.
The Merry Family gives us a glimpse of everyday life in the Golden Age by how

people acted at home and showing how the middle-class people were celebrating among

themselves but they seem to be making fools of themselves.

The Potato Eaters was painted during the Post-Impressionist period in Europe. Artwork during

the Post-Impressionist period emphasized: “their emotions and personal responses in their

paintings, which consequently were more expressive and figurative in nature” (MindEdge).

During this period, painters used “bright colors and expressive forms” to depict “emotion ”

(MindEdge). In the Potato Eaters, we can see how the painter utilizes colors that are particularly

dull such as brown and black which gives the artwork a melancholy feeling. By examining this

artwork, the people in the painting have experienced hard labor under the sun because of the way

the artist use earthy like colors to convey a realistic feeling in the painting. Additionally, this

painting is sensible and non-misrepresented, as it serves to demonstrate the daily life of peasant

family after a hard working day. In Vincent van Gogh painting, The Potato Eaters, he uses an
art

technique known as chiaroscuro, which is characterized as "the creation of the illusion of depth

through gradations of light and shade" in order to use both dark and light tones in the shaping of

the faces of the potato eaters (MindEdge). The composition of this painting is precisely

organized. By analyzing the artwork, we can conclude that the work of art is symmetrical in the

way the figures are situated, as they are bothered geometrically.
The Potato Eaters display the

everyday life of peasants by expressing how these individuals worked hard labor judging by their

facial expression, and then are able to come home to a well-deserved meal.

Merry Family and Potato Eaters were created during two very different time periods, in two

different styles, and with two different intents. At the heart of their differences is the subject

matter they choose to represent: the realistic representation of everyday life among families. It’s

important to look more closely at how each artist chooses to represent this idea and what this

significance is in these differences. The depiction of everyday life is different between Merry

Family and Potato Eaters because in Merry Family we see a family gathered around

celebrating among themselves but they are doing a lot of immoral things such as drinking and

smoking. However, the Potato Eaters illustrates the life of a peasant's family as they gathered

around a table and have their dinner. Both Merry Family and Potato Eaters are different in the

way they portray the everyday life of families because of the economic status that they
each

represent if that be of the low class as shown in Potato Eaters or middle class as shown in Merry

Family. Through a comparison of the differences in symbolism and visual elements and

principles, it becomes clear that everyday life is very different in these two works of art.

In the Merry Family painting, we see how wine, food, and music are present in this painting and

many of the people are showing a look of enthusiastic delight on their faces. The expression on

their faces conclude that they are having a great time but if you thoroughly examine the painting

you will see an object that contradicts everything that is happening in this painting which is the

note. The symbol used in Merry Family is the note because in the painting it highlights a moral

that should be taken away from the painting which is understanding the consequences of a bad

upbringing. In contrast, Potato Eaters portray of everyday life are fighting against what Merry

Family represents. In Potato Eaters, the painting depicts five individuals lounging around a

square table eating potatoes; it seems to be three females and two males at the table. Although

the painting is overwhelmed by dark and gloomy colors, the facial expression of the peasants

sparkle out splendidly, uncovering their blended inward feelings. The symbol used in Potato

Eaters is the lamp which represents the hope of getting out of poverty. Through an analysis of

these symbols, the intent behind portraying the economic status of everyday families in their

daily life is very different in these two works of art.

In the Merry Family, the painting consists of colors such as tan, red-orange, white, and

brown. Also in the painting we see lighter and darker shade of colors in order to contrast the

emotional expression shown from the people in the painting and the artist's emotional response

to this painting. There is a contrast in color between the people who are doing immoral things

such as drinking and smoking and the people who are not doing immoral things, for example, the

father and the son have a darker shade of colors in their clothing compared to the mother and

grandmother which are a lighter shade of colors. This difference in color choices emphasizes the

wrongdoing being done in this painting versus the non-wrong doing being done in this painting.

In Potato Eaters painting, the overall colors used in this painting are tertiary and earthly

colors. The colors used in the painting create a somber tone to illustrates how it feels to be a poor

peasant and the colors set up the mood of poverty. By the artist using these colors we as the

viewer can see a realistic representation of the lives of a peasant during this time period.

The lines in both works of art also provide a larger meaning. In Merry Family, all of the lines in

the painting are curved and circular. The curve and circular lines in the artwork serve to intensify

the expression given off by this painting and it also adds more dynamic features to this painting.

In Potato Eaters the lines included is curved and straight lines and the shape depicted in this

painting are three dimensional. The curves, straight lines, and three-dimensional shapes are

depicted in order to portray the people, objects, and the environment as it may appear to the eye,

which adds to the artwork by being more sensible.

Both Merry Family and Potato Eaters displays a realistic representation of everyday life

between families as they gather around the dinner table presumably eating dinner. Also, both

artworks have very different purposes, and these different purposes are made evident through a

variety of symbols, as well as differences in color and use of lines, which also have symbolic

meaning. While Merry Family contradicts the everyday life of a chaotic family by illustrating the

old saying that bad examples are quickly followed, Potato Eaters shows a powerful yet realistic

painting of how poverty has overtaken this family in this specific time period (Google Arts and

Culture). The differences shown in Potato Eaters and Merry Family is that Merry Family we see

the family gathered around their dinner table indulging themselves in activities such as smoking

and drinking, but the adults, in this case, should be setting examples for the younger generation

to follow. On the contrary, Potato Eaters illustrates the life of a peasant's family who represents

hard working laborers who are gathered around a square table to enjoy their meal as a family. By

examining both artworks we as the viewer can determine how important family meals are to both

families in each different time period based on their interaction with each other as they are

having dinner, for example, in Potato Eaters, even though they don't have much of anything but

they understand the meaning of coming together when it is time for dinner.

Everyday life, as a theme, is used to reference the ways in which people will typically act,

think, and possibly feel on a daily basis, as well how they view the daily activities they have to

complete such as eating a family meal with their family, which is still relevant and important

today as well. According to a study published by the Washington Post, dinner is the most reliable

way for families to connect and find out what’s going on with each other (Washington Post). This

indicates that many families around the world do not have dinner together but we see that having

family meals together can help build up communication skills. In addition, according to the New

York Times, the effects of family dinners on children depend on the extent to which parents use

the time to engage with their children and learn about their day-to-day lives...so if you aren’t able

to make the family meal happen on a regular basis, don’t beat yourself up: just find another way

to connect with your kids (New York Times).

Eric Mccandless is a contemporary photographer whose work addresses the issues with how

families portrayed an American family meal. In his work, What 'Modern Family' Says About

Modern Families, he takes a scene from Modern Family which shows that everyone is having

breakfast together, but almost everyone is using some kind of technology, which is taking away

precious time that they could be spending with one another. Through this tv show scene, we see

how technology has become incorporated into family meal across America which is impacting

the values behind family meal such as talking among each other and hearing how someone day

was rather than being absorbed into technological gadgets such as cell phones and laptops. In this

postmodern artwork, we see how the photograph illustrate the changes in the portrayal of family

meal show us that many families across the world are letting the process of industrialization take

over the true traditional value that was once in existence concerning the view of family meals.