In the context of this artwork, explain the Peasant genre of the Background.
The "peasant genre" related to the Realism movement that greatly influenced Van Gogh began in the 1840s with the works of Jean-François Millet, Jules Breton, and others.  He described the works of Millet and Breton of religious significance, "something on high," and described them as the "voices of the wheat."Throughout Van Gogh's adulthood he had an interest in serving others, especially manual workers.  As a young man he served and ministered to coal miners in Borinage, Belgium which seemed to bring him close to his calling of being a missionary or minister to workers.A common denominator in his favored authors and artists was sentimental treatment of the destitute and downtrodden.  Referring to painting of peasants Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo: "How shall I ever manage to paint what I love so much?"  He held laborers up to a high standard of how dedicatedly he should approach painting, "One must undertake with confidence, with a certain assurance that one is doing a reasonable thing, like the farmer who drives his plow... (one who) drags the harrow behind himself.  If one hasn't a horse, one is one's own horse."In 1885 Van Gogh described the painting of peasants as the most essential contribution to modern art.  See also Peasant Character Studies (Van Gogh series).
Theo Jean-François Millet Peasant Realism movement peasant Peasant Character Studies (Van Gogh series) Jules Breton Belgium harrow Borinage