For a long time the painting was not given to the artist. It is known that at least 12 etudes were created to work, which were destroyed by the author mercilessly. Every day the master visited the peasant house de Groot, when the whole family was sitting down for dinner and tried to “grab” the very atmosphere of a peasant meager dinner – a well-deserved meal of people of heavy physical labor. Before us in the dim light of a kerosene lamp people at the table. Before them is a dish with baked potatoes, and a cup of barley coffee is the only “luxury” that peasants can afford. Knoth hands, swarthy skin.
The artist is unusually stingy in expressive means. In this work there is not that riot of colors that is present in many works of the author. The artist’s tasks in this picture are somewhat different than usual. Many researchers see the picture as a satire, the desire to portray people in a state of semi-drudginess and ignorance.
Such a vision of the idea of work for a long time was the main one among the interpretations. But the refutation can be found in the artist’s letters. The author himself with great respect spoke about the de Groot family. And his main task was “to transfer steam from potatoes”, to create an atmosphere of heavy peasant life and work.
It is worth taking a close look at the picture of the relationship in the de Groot family, their hopes, their dreams, their thoughts becoming clear. The faces of the peasants are naive and open. Their actions are also honest and dictated by simple moral principles. These people are not spoiled by any passions. Hard work and a modest reward are the two components of peasant life. Potatoes are the cheapest food, and the word “potato-leaf” itself will tell more about people than many volumes of sociological research.
The family de Groot, one evening, seeing that the artist does not work at all, having finished the dinner did not disperse, but continued to pose for another two hours, despite the fatigue. It was not easy for the master to part with a kind and hospitable family. The painting was completed in one night. The next day the artist left the village forever, taking with him one of his most successful works.
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