Vincent van Gogh in 10 Paintings: A Journey Through His Art

Evolved over Time

Van Gogh’s journey as an artist was not easy. He created over 2,000 artworks, including about 900 paintings, many of which went unappreciated during his lifetime. His distinctive use of color, bold brushstrokes, and expressive emotional themes set him apart from his contemporaries. As a result, Van Gogh’s work eventually gained recognition, and his paintings are now celebrated as some of the most innovative in art history.

From the early works, heavily influenced by the Dutch masters, to the brighter, more vibrant pieces created during his time in the south of France, Van Gogh’s art continuously evolved. Transitioning from a dark, muted palette to vivid, swirling colors, Vincent van Gogh’s paintings reflect his inner turmoil and passion. Moreover, his deep connection to nature and the people around him is evident in his subjects, whether through somber portraits, serene landscapes, or bustling rural scenes.

1. View of the Sea at Scheveningen

Vincent van Gogh painted View of the Sea at Scheveningen in 1882, capturing nature’s raw power with bold brushstrokes and thick paint. Created on-site in a fishing village near the Hague, the painting reflects van Gogh’s early style and his connection to Impressionism.

In 2002, the artwork was stolen from the Van Gogh Museum and later recovered in Italy, though it sustained significant damage. Advanced restoration work, including 3D printing, helped reconstruct the missing section, ensuring the piece closely resembles its original version. The painting remains a testament to van Gogh’s dedication to depicting nature.

2. The Potato Eaters

Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters represents a crucial moment in his artistic journey. Created in 1885, this ambitious piece marked his first attempt at a large figure painting. Unlike his later, more colorful works, this one features a dark, muted palette. Van Gogh intentionally used cool gray-green blues and dim lighting to highlight the peasants’ harsh life. The figures’ rough anatomy and exaggerated proportions emphasize their connection to the earth, enhancing the scene’s emotional depth.

Moreover, the use of earth tones symbolically mirrors peasant labor, and their humble existence. Van Gogh aimed to portray their authenticity, emphasizing their bony hands as a testament to the hard work put into growing their own food. In doing so, Van Gogh prioritized sincerity and emotion over technical precision. Although the composition faced criticism for its dark tones and flawed anatomy, the artist viewed this work as a demonstration of his commitment to capturing rural life.

3. In the Café: Agostina Segatori in Le Tambourin

The Woman in the Café du Tambourin portrays Agostina Segatori, owner of the café, who was briefly Van Gogh’s partner. The painting, shows Segatori sitting at a table, holding a cigarette, with a glass of beer in front of her. The background features Japanese prints, reflecting Van Gogh’s interest in this art form. Agostina’s melancholic expression and the atmospheric interior of the café suggest the struggles she faced, possibly linked to the café’s financial problems.

The café was a hub for artists, including Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin. Van Gogh himself exhibited his collection of Japanese prints there. The use of complementary colors during this period, such as the contrasts of red-green and yellow-violet, shows his evolving style. The painting also serves as a visual sign of women’s participation in the Parisian cafés and nightlife. Traditionally portrayed as bartenders, waitresses, or sex workers, they now became depicted as regular visitors of these places, commonly associated with men, bohème, or marginalized groups.”

The portrait displays asymmetry in Agostina’s face, potentially indicating a left-sided facial paralysis. Though no medical condition was documented, Van Gogh may have intentionally depicted these features to enhance emotional expression. His use of color was less about replicating reality and more about conveying deeper meaning, reflecting his artistic philosophy of using arbitrary colors for greater emotional impact.

4. The Bedroom

Vincent van Gogh’s paintings called The Bedroom (yes, paintings! He painted three versions of this subject) were created during his stay in the Yellow House in Arles. He arranged the room with simple furniture and hung one of his artworks on the walls. He intended to evoke a sense of absolute repose or sleep through the use of bright colors. However, research shows that some colors have faded over time; the walls, originally purple, now appear blue. Van Gogh also deliberately flattened the interior, ignoring certain rules of perspective. This was meant to resemble the Japanese prints, which he loved so much.

The painting reflects a deeply personal space, which the artist saw as a place of refuge. He emphasized that the colors in the painting were not only used to represent the actual interior but also evoke emotions, making the space feel inviting and serene.

Van Gogh had an idea of creating a community for fellow artists, away from sophisticated Paris, where they could focus on creating art. The simplified forms and vibrant of colors align with his quest for authenticity in his art.

5. Starry Night over the Rhône

In Starry Night over the Rhône, Vincent van Gogh captured the night sky above the city of Arles with a serene blend of blues: Prussian blue, ultramarine, and cobalt, contrasted by the intense orange glow of gas lights reflected on the water. Unlike his later work Starry Night, painted during his time in a mental institution, this scene is tranquil. It was created outdoors, under the visual esthetic of a lamplight gaslight, with a peaceful atmosphere further emphasized by a couple of lovers in the lower part of the canvas.

While Starry Night over the Rhône is still trying to depict the atmosphere of the night view, the Starry Night reflects a shift toward imaginative expression, where swirling stars and fiery trees symbolize the turmoil of his inner world. This latter painting represents Van Gogh’s dedication to capturing nature’s beauty, even as he grappled with the tension between reality and his emotional state.

6. Irises

In 1889, Vincent van Gogh painted Irises while recovering in an asylum in Saint-Rémy, France. This period, despite his mental health struggles, became one of his most productive phases. Van Gogh found inspiration in the asylum’s garden, where he studied the natural beauty of irises. He painted this dynamic work using vivid colors, expressive brushwork, and intricate lines.

The cropped composition of the painting reflects the influence of Japanese woodblock prints. Van Gogh did not view Irises as a finished work, but rather as a study, emphasizing his intent to closely observe and capture nature. Despite this, his brother Theo recognized its quality and exhibited it in the Salon des Indépendants, where it gained attention for its liveliness and detail.

Each iris in the painting is unique, crafted with careful attention to movement and form. The swirling lines and vibrant contrasts between complementary colors, like green and red or purple and yellow, showcase Van Gogh’s mastery of Post-Impressionism. Through this piece, he synthesized influences from Japanese art, Northern European traditions, and modernism, demonstrating his ability to blend the observation of the natural world with a subjective artistic vision.

7. Prisoners’ Round (after Gustave Doré)

Prisoners’ Round depicts prisoners walking in a grim, enclosed courtyard, observed indifferently by three men, including two in top hats. The composition emphasizes a stark contrast between the prisoners’ confined reality and the onlookers’ detached privilege.

The central focus is a blonde prisoner, possibly representing Van Gogh himself, whose slow step suggests a longing for freedom. High walls reinforce the sense of entrapment, yet two butterflies overhead symbolize hidden hope. Inspired by a Gustave Doré engraving, the painting reflects van Gogh’s personal feelings of isolation during his stay in an asylum in 1890.

8. End of the Day (after Millet)

End of the Day (after Millet) is one of the 150 paintings created by Van Gogh during the final year of his life. It was inspired by a sketch of the same name by Jean-François Millet. During just a few months, Vincent van Gogh produced 23 paintings based on Millet’s black-and-white sketches. However, he did not consider his work a mere copy. He referred to it as a “translation” into color, light, and impressions. The painting depicts a weary farmer resting after a long day of work, a moving representation of fatigue and contemplation. Through vibrant colors, Van Gogh captures the essence of rural life.

9. Portrait of Adeline Ravoux

In May 1890, Vincent van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, where he painted a portrait of 13-year-old Adeline Ravoux, the innkeeper’s daughter. Although Adeline did not initially think the portrait resembled her, a later photograph shows a striking similarity. Van Gogh, however, didn’t aim for a photographic likeness, but rather the subject’s inner character. Through vivid colors and energetic brushstrokes, he revealed more than just a physical appearance. This portrait, completed in the final months of Van Gogh’s life, reflects his deep commitment to portraying the emotional depth of his sitters.

10. Almond Blossom

Almond Blossom, one of Van Gogh’s cherished subjects, represents new life and the arrival of spring. Almond trees, which bloom early in the season, symbolize rebirth, making the painting particularly meaningful as it was a gift for his newborn nephew, Vincent Willem, son of Theo and Jo. Vincent van Gogh was deeply touched by the birth and soon after started working on the painting. The carefully crafted blue background with multiple shades mimics the natural sky.

The composition of Almond Blossom once again reflects Van Gogh’s fascination with Japanese prints, seen in the bold outlines and close-up perspective, where the branches are depicted from below as if viewed while lying on the grass. This unique perspective gives the viewer a sense of intimacy with nature, a theme that resonated deeply with Van Gogh.

The painting became a treasured family possession, hanging in prominent place in the home of Theo and Jo. Unlike many other works, Almond Blossom was never sold and now is part of the Van Gogh Museum collection. This work carried an emotional significance for the artist, as it marked a fresh start after a period of illness, although it came at a cost. Following the completion of the piece, he experienced his longest mental health crisis, which tragically caused him to miss painting the rest of the blossoming season, a personal disappointment for the artist. Nevertheless, the work stands as a beautiful symbol of life, nature, and renewal.