Women Picking Olives

Women Picking Olives is a painting by Vincent van Gogh, created during his stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in late 1889. The work depicts three women harvesting olives from gnarled trees under a pale, swirling sky — a subject deeply connected to the Provençal landscape and local rhythms of life.

Rendered in Van Gogh’s signature expressive brushwork and vibrant palette, the painting merges post-impressionist color theory with symbolic undertones. The women appear as timeless, almost sculptural figures, harmonized with the landscape, suggesting a quiet dignity in labor and a spiritual connection to nature. The repeated curved forms of the trees and figures evoke movement and unity, reinforcing Van Gogh's ongoing exploration of nature, humanity, and toil.

This piece is part of a series Van Gogh painted on the theme and reflects both his admiration for peasant life and his own emotional quest for peace during a turbulent time.