Van Gogh’s Enclosed Field with Ploughman under raking light

Raking light reveals bulges and creases in a canvas, as well as the dynamism of van Gogh’s brushstrokes.

Conservators use raking light to study the condition of a canvas and paint films. Applying the technique to Van Gogh’s Enclosed Field with Ploughman (1889) reveals the animation of the brushstrokes, giving insight into the artist’s technique. Video from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Title Enclosed Field with Ploughman
Artist(s) Vincent van Gogh
Dates 1889
Places Europe / Western Europe / France
Period, Culture, Style Post-Impressionism
Artwork Type Painting / Landscape painting
Material Oil paint, Canvas
Technique Conservation and restoration , Impasto

Cite this page as: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, "Van Gogh’s Enclosed Field with Ploughman under raking light," in Smarthistory, May 6, 2017, accessed February 19, 2025, https://smarthistory.org/van-goghs-enclosed-field-with-ploughman-under-raking-light/.