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Sorrow

Vincent van Gogh · 1882

A charcoal drawing of Sien Hoornik, the pregnant woman Van Gogh lived with in The Hague, made by him in 1882.

Drawn by Van Gogh of the woman he lived with and cared for in The Hague, showing his early compassion and skill.

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Charcoal drawing of a nude woman with long dark hair, seated with her head bowed and arms wrapped around her knees, on a rock amid sparse plants. Caption text along the bottom edge reads 'Comment se fait-il qu'il y ait sur la terre une femme seule' and 'Michelet'; a label reads 'Sorrow' and the artist's signature appears at lower left.
Vincent van Gogh, Sorrow, 1882. Garman Ryan Collection, The New Art Gallery Walsall.

About this source

What it is

A charcoal drawing by Vincent van Gogh, made in 1882 and held in the Garman Ryan Collection at The New Art Gallery Walsall. It depicts Clasina Maria Hoornik, known as Sien, a pregnant woman Van Gogh knew in The Hague.

Why it matters

Van Gogh cared for Sien, who was destitute and pregnant, and she modelled for him during their time together. He considered this drawing one of his best figure studies, writing that he wanted his drawings to touch people and that this one came

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Vincent van Gogh on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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