Bleachery at Scheveningen

Bleachery at Scheveningen is an early work by Vincent van Gogh, created during his time in The Hague in 1882. The drawing depicts a bleach field near the coastal town of Scheveningen, where laundry was laid out to whiten in the sun. Executed in pencil and ink, the piece showcases Van Gogh’s emerging sensitivity to everyday working life and humble landscapes.

The composition is structured and quietly atmospheric, emphasizing the repetitive patterns of fabric and the expansive, overcast sky. This work reflects Van Gogh’s early interest in the dignity of labor and the rural Dutch environment, themes that would continue to shape his art throughout his career.