What you are looking at
A peasant family shares a meal of potatoes and coffee around a table under a single oil lamp, their hands and faces rough and dark.
Why it is famous
Van Gogh painted it in 1885 in Nuenen in the Netherlands and saw it as his first real masterpiece. He wanted to show that the people had dug the earth with the same hands they put into the dish.
How big is The Potato Eaters?
The Potato Eaters measures 82 × 114 cm (32.3 × 44.9 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 2 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Amsterdam.
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Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Potato Eaters?
Vincent van Gogh painted The Potato Eaters in 1885.
Where is The Potato Eaters?
The Potato Eaters is in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
How big is The Potato Eaters?
82 × 114 cm (32.3 × 44.9 in). Its surface is about 2 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Potato Eaters made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q154469; Wikipedia, "The Potato Eaters". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.