In the autumn of 1883, Vincent van Gogh was living in the Dutch province of Drenthe, a period marked by solitude and deep observation of rural life. Three Figures Near a Canal with Windmill belongs to this brief but formative chapter, when Van Gogh, still years away from his signature style, immersed himself in the stark landscape and the daily rhythms of peasant labor. The painting is rarely seen, and its medium remains a subject of debate among scholars—some suggest oil, others watercolor or mixed media—adding an air of mystery to its physical nature.

Unlike his later, more famous works, this piece is seldom exhibited, making each viewing a rare encounter with Van Gogh’s early vision. The scene unfolds at the edge of a Dutch canal, where three figures—likely local laborers—pause near the water as a windmill rises in the distance. Van Gogh selects a moment of quiet industry: the figures are not at rest, but caught in the midst of their daily toil, their backs bent, their forms rendered in earth tones that blend with the muddy banks and overcast sky. The windmill, a recurring motif in Dutch art, stands as both a symbol of tradition and the relentless passage of time.

The subdued palette and humble subject recall the influence of Jean-François Millet, whose dignified peasants Van Gogh admired deeply. Unlike the later, swirling brushwork of Post-Impressionism, here the composition is restrained, the mood somber, attentive to the hardships and dignity of rural existence. Little is known about the journey of this particular painting after its creation. It was likely never sold in Van Gogh’s lifetime, as with most of his early works, and its whereabouts were uncertain for decades.

Today, it is recognized as an important example of Van Gogh’s Drenthe period, a time when he was still searching for his artistic voice. The painting’s anonymity in the art market and its uncertain medium have made it less celebrated than his later masterpieces, yet it offers a crucial glimpse into the artist’s early fascination with the Dutch landscape and the lives of working people. It stands as a quiet testament to Van Gogh’s roots before the explosive color and energy of his years in France.