Van Gogh’s feeling for the working poor is evident from his earliest works. In 1883-84, he executed at least twenty-eight oil paintings, drawings, and watercolors of the weavers in the district near his family’s home in the Netherlands. His interest was aroused not only by the subject, but by the somber effect of the dark wood and gray walls, contrasting with the red cloth on the loom. In a letter of about April 1, 1884, when this painting was still in progress, Vincent wrote to his brother Theo of "studies which are your property, which I will send you if you like, but if you don't care to have them, I will ask you if I may keep them sometime, as I need them for my work. The one is a large weaver, who weaves a piece of red cloth...." About a month later (about May 1, 1884), Vincent mentioned the painting as still being in his care. See J.-B. de la Faille, "The Works of Vincent van Gogh: His Paintings and Drawings"... (http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/weaver-33610)