Head of an Old Woman with White Cap (The Midwife) - Vincent van Gogh
Archival giclée
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Description
A portrait of an elderly woman in a white cap, painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1885 during his Dutch period.
Painted in 1885 during his time in Nuenen, this portrait captures an elderly woman wearing a traditional white cap. Vincent van Gogh produced several studies of local peasants during this period, focusing on the rugged features and weathered skin of his subjects. His approach here avoids idealisation, choosing instead to document the physical reality of the sitter with direct, honest brushwork.
The composition is tight, focusing entirely on the head and shoulders of the woman. The dark, muted background ensures that the viewer's attention remains fixed on the face. Van Gogh uses a palette dominated by earthy tones, punctuated by the stark white of the cap and the tie beneath her chin. The paint application is deliberate, with visible strokes that define the contours of her face and the texture of her clothing. This work reflects his early interest in the lives of rural workers, a theme he explored extensively before his move to Paris.
The woman is often identified as a local midwife, though the specific identity remains secondary to the artist's interest in character and form. The lighting is soft, casting gentle shadows that model her features without resorting to dramatic chiaroscuro. The white cap, with its pleated fabric, provides a geometric contrast to the organic curves of the face. This piece offers a clear view into the artist's early technical development, showing his ability to convey personality through a limited colour range and focused observation. It remains a representative example of his Dutch period, where he sought to capture the essence of his subjects through a sombre, grounded aesthetic.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Head of an Old Woman with White Cap (The Midwife) - Vincent van Gogh
Artist Biography
Vincent Van Gogh
He taught himself to draw by copying prints and working through textbooks. His brother Theo, an art dealer in Paris, sent money every month for the rest of Vincent's life. Without Theo there are no paintings. The letters between them, over 600, are one of the most complete records of any artist's thinking. Van Gogh wrote about colour theory, composition, what he ate, what he read, how much he spent on paint. He was articulate and well-read and not, despite the popular version, simply mad.
He moved to Paris in 1886 and encountered Impressionism. The palette changed immediately: from the dark browns of his Dutch period to the colours people actually associate with his work. He met Gauguin, Pissarro, Signac, Toulouse-Lautrec. He absorbed Pointillism and Japanese prints. Then he moved to Arles in the south of France, where the light was better and people were fewer.
The Arles period produced Sunflowers, The Bedroom, Starry Night Over the Rhone. The breakdown followed: the argument with Gauguin, the severed ear (he cut part of his left ear, not the whole thing), the asylum at Saint-Remy, and then Auvers-sur-Oise, where he painted seventy canvases in seventy days before dying from a gunshot wound at thirty-seven. He sold one painting during his lifetime, or possibly two. Theo died six months later.
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