The Painter of Sunflowers

1888 painting by Paul Gauguin

The Painter of Sunflowers (in French: Le Peintre de Tournesols) is a portrait of Vincent van Gogh by Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh is depicted sitting before an easel, presumably painting his “Sunflower” series. The work, which is a piece from Gauguin’s “Arles Period”, was created in Arles, France, in December, 1888.[1] The painting is in the collection of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.[2]

The Painter of Sunflowers (Portrait of Vincent van Gogh)

Artist| Paul Gauguin
Year| 1888
Medium| Oil on canvas
Dimensions| 73 cm × 91 cm (28.7 in × 35.8 in)
Location| Van Gogh Museum

## Background

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The portrait was painted when Gauguin lived with Van Gogh in Arles. Van Gogh had asked Gauguin to stay with him and form an art colony that he referred to as "The Studio of the South".[1] After much urging and extensive correspondences, Gauguin agreed to move to Arles in October, 1888.[3] Gauguin was financially supported by Van Gogh’s brother, Theo Van Gogh, who paid Gauguin a stipend of 150 francs in return for completing one painting a month.[1]

Gauguin stayed in Arles from October to December, during which time the two artists found themselves regularly at odds.[3] The artists had differing opinions in regards to artistic expression and freedom of representation, and their contrasting beliefs led to tension between them.[4]

The completed Painter of Sunflowers was shipped to Theo Van Gogh on December 20, 1888, shortly after an incident between the artists during which Van Gogh allegedly threw a glass of absinthe in Gauguin’s face. Days later, on December 23, 1888, a disagreement with Gauguin was followed by the famous incident of Van Gogh severing his own left ear with a razor.[1] Afterwards, Gauguin wrote to Theo saying, "Everything considered, I am obliged to return to Paris. Vincent and I simply cannot live together without trouble, due to the incompatibility of our characters, and we both need tranquility to work".[5]

Gauguin admitted that his portrait of Van Gogh was not a perfect likeness, but he felt that he had captured his friend's intimate character. Van Gogh's initial impression of the painting was that Gauguin had depicted him as a madman; he stated, "It is certainly I, but I gone mad".[5] He later softened his view, saying, "My face has lit up after all a lot since, but it was indeed me, extremely tired and charged with electricity as I was then."[2]

## Composition

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"Bedroom in Arles", Vincent van Gogh "Blue Trees", Paul Gauguin

The painting shows Van Gogh working in what he called “The Yellow House,” and it includes recognizable features of other notable works.[6] For example, the blue walls in the painting are also visible in Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles, and the chair Van Gogh is seated in is likely the same as the one depicted in the painting Van Gogh’s Chair.[7] Hanging on the wall behind Van Gogh we can see an enlarged portion of one of Gauguin's paintings. It was not uncommon for Gauguin to display his own paintings in the background of his works, and the one depicted here is most similar to his painting Blue Trees.[6]

Though Gauguin would have viewed Van Gogh painting many times, it is likely that this portrait scene was done mostly from memory. A key indicator of this is that the work was completed in the winter of 1888, but depicts a scene from the summer, suggesting that Gauguin developed the concept of the painting first, and then later added details observed from life.[1]

In the painting, Gauguin depicts Van Gogh as seen from above, sunken into his chair with his eyes slightly closed. Art historians have noted that Van Gogh's head appears distorted, with a sloping shape and flat features.[8] From this composition, some have suggested that Gauguin was representing Van Gogh's deteriorating mental state, rather than his true likeness.[6]

## Style and influences

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Gauguin’s early work was still indebted to the Impressionist style, an artistic movement that centered around painting from observation and capturing transient moments. From his time in Arles, however, Gauguin’s work is considered to be Post-Impressionist, due to its developed individual style and departure from observed appearances.[9]

Though Gauguin and Van Gogh worked closely together, they had different influences on the style of their painting. While at Arles, Gauguin stated in a letter that Van Gogh "admires Daudet, Daubigny, Ziem and the great Rousseau, all people I cannot understand, and on the other hand he detests Ingres, Raphael, Degas, all people whom I admire."[10]

## Chemical analysis

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X-radiographs of the canvas and microscopic analysis of the paint reveal that the work was likely done on a coarse, jute fabric, and used a palette of optically pure lead pigments including white, vermillion, chrome yellow, synthetic ultramarine, and more. The X-radiograph also revealed the areas of the painting that are most dense with paint, such as the foreground figure, the wall and the sunflowers. These areas of heavily applied paint suggest that Gauguin likely blocked out the composition first, then built up the paint as he worked.[1]: 127–128

## Ownership

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The painting remained in Theo Van Gogh’s possession from 1888 until his death in 1891, after which it was passed down through his family until eventually being given to the Van Gogh Foundation in 1962. The painting has been since placed in the Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam from its opening in 1973.[2]

## See also

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* Van Gogh's Sunflowers series

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f Wasiutynski, Jirat (2000). Technique and Meaning in the Paintings of Paul Gauguin. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp. 115–136. ISBN 0521642906.
2. ^ a b c "Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers Paul Gauguin, 1888". Van Gogh Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
3. ^ a b Rapetti, Rodolphe (2003). "Gauguin, Paul". Grove Art Online. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T031013. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
4. ^ Colins, Bradley (2001). Van Gogh and Gauguin: Electric Arguments and Utopian Dreams. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. pp. 65–85. ISBN 0813335957.
5. ^ a b Rewald, John (1956). Post-Impressionism: From Van Gogh to Gauguin. New York: Museum of Modern Art. pp. 241–268. ISBN 0810960664.
6. ^ a b c Gayford, Martin (2006). The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles. New York: Little, Brown and Company. pp. 238–245. ISBN 0316769010.
7. ^ Groom, Gloria (2016). Van Gogh's Bedrooms (1st ed.). The Art Institute of Chicago. pp. 127–130. ISBN 9780300214864.
8. ^ Druick, Douglass (2001). Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South. The Art Institute of Chicago. pp. 236–240. ISBN 0500510547.
9. ^ "Paul Gauguin | Biography, Tahiti, Vincent van Gogh, Artworks, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
10. ^ van Uitert, Evert (1977). "Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin: A Creative Competition". Simiolus: Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art. 9 (3): 149–168. doi:10.2307/3780334. ISSN 0037-5411. JSTOR 3780334.

* v
* t
* e

Paul Gauguin

Paintings|

* List of paintings
* Study of a Nude (1880)
* Still Life with Profile of Laval (1886)
* Still Life with a Sketch after Delacroix (c. 1887)
* Vision after the Sermon (1888)
* The Painter of Sunflowers (1888)
* Landscape near Arles (1888)
* The Wave (1888)
* Portrait of Madame Roulin (1888)
* Fields by the Sea (1889)
* The Beautiful Angel (1889)
* Fruits on a Table (1889)
* The Schuffenecker Family (1889)
* The Flageolet Player on the Cliff (1889)
* The Yellow Christ (1889)
* The Green Christ (1889)
* Christ on the Mount of Olives (1889)
* Self-Portrait with Halo and Snake (1889)
* Still Life with Head-Shaped Vase and Japanese Woodcut (1889)
* Self-Portrait with the Yellow Christ (c. 1890–91)
* Tahitian Women on the Beach (1891)
* Tahitian Woman with a Flower (1891)
* A Man with an Axe (1891)
* Ia Orana Maria (1891)
* The Bunch of Flowers (1891)
* Conversation (1891)
* Early Evening (1892)
* Landscape with Peacocks (Death) (1892)
* Parau na te varua ino (1892)
* Vahine no te vi (1892)
* Vairumati tei Oa (1892)
* Fatata te Miti (By the Sea) (1892)
* Arearea (1892)
* Spirit of the Dead Watching (1892)
* Te Fare (1892)
* When Will You Marry? (1892)
* Aha Oe Feii? (1892)
* Arii Matamoe (1892)
* The Siesta (1892–1894)
* Merahi metua no Tehamana (1893)
* Otahi (1893)
* Self-Portrait in a Hat (1893)
* Mahana no atua (1894)
* Nave nave moe (1894)
* Arearea no varua ino (1894)
* Le violoncelliste (1894)
* Breton Peasant Women (1894)
* Eiaha Ohipa (1896)
* Nave Nave Mahana (1896)
* Te tamari no atua (1896)
* The Queen (1896)
* Vairumati (1897)
* Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897/1898)
* Nevermore (1897)
* Two Tahitian Women (1899)
* The Great Buddha (1899)
* Tahitian Woman and Boy (1899)
* Landscape, Horse on the Road (1899)
* The Call (1902)
* Still Life with Exotic Birds (1902)
* Landscape with a Pig and a Horse (1903)

Other works|

* Jug in the Form of a Head, Self-Portrait (1889)
* Soyez amoureuses vous serez heureuses (wood panel, 1889)
* Objet décoratif carré avec dieux tahitiens (sculpture, 1893–1895)
* Oviri (ceramic sculpture, 1895)

Periodicals|

* Le Sourire (1899–1900)

Exhibitions|

* Les XX, 1889
* The Volpini Exhibition, 1889

Museums|

* Paul Gauguin Museum (Tahiti)
* Paul Gauguin Cultural Center (Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands)
* Paul Gauguin Interpretation Centre (Martinique)

People|

* Jean René Gauguin (son)
* Pola Gauguin (son)
* Paul René Gauguin (grandson)
* Flora Tristan (grandmother)
* Émile Bernard
* Vincent van Gogh
* Meijer de Haan
* Charles Laval
* George-Daniel de Monfreid
* Camille Pissarro
* Émile Schuffenecker
* Theo van Gogh
* Ambroise Vollard

Related|

* The Moon and Sixpence (1942 film)
* Lust for Life (1956 film)
* Rebel in Paradise (1960 film)
* The Wolf at the Door (1986 film)
* Paradise Found (2003 film)
* Gauguin: Off the Beaten Track (2013 comic book)
* At Eternity's Gate (2018 film)
* Gauguin (crater)
* Paul Gauguin Cruises
* ship

* v
* t
* e

Vincent van Gogh

General|

* Biography
* List of works
* List of drawings
* Chronology
* The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
* Health
* Auberge Ravoux
* Death
* Nazi looting of artworks by Vincent van Gogh
* Posthumous fame
* Cultural depictions
* Lost Arles sketchbook

Groups of
works|

* Early works (1881–82)
* Portraits (1881–1890)
* Peasant Character Studies (1881–1885)
* Van Gogh's family in his art (1881–1888)
* Sien (1882–83)
* Cottages (1883–1885)
* Water Mill at Gennep (1884)
* Still life paintings, Netherlands (1884–85)
* Old Church Tower at Nuenen (1884–85)
* Amsterdam (1885)
* Wheat Fields (1885–1890)
* Le Moulin de la Galette (1886)
* Still life paintings, Paris (1886–87)
* Montmartre (1886–87)
* Self portraits (1886–1889)
* Outskirts of Paris (1887)
* Asnières (1887)
* Seine (1887)
* Japonaiserie (1887)
* Sunflowers (1887–1889)
* Trees and Undergrowth (1887–1890)
* Copies by Vincent van Gogh (1887–1890)
* Langlois Bridge at Arles (1888)
* Saintes-Maries (1888)
* Boats du Rhône (1888)
* Décoration for the Yellow House (1888)
* The Roulin Family (1888–89)
* Hospital in Arles (1888–89)
* Flowering Orchards (1888–89)
* Almond Blossoms (1888–1890)
* Paintings of Children (1888–1890)
* The Wheat Field (1889)
* Reaper (1889)
* Olive Trees (1889)
* Wheat Fields (1889)
* Butterflies (1889–90)
* Saint-Paul Asylum, Saint-Rémy (1889–90)
* Auvers size 30 canvases (1890)
* Auvers Double-squares and Squares (1890)
* Lost works by Vincent van Gogh
* Display at Les XX, 1890

Oil paintings|

| 1882|

* Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather
* Girl in White in the Woods
* Lying Cow
* A Girl in the Street, Two Coaches in the Background

|

1883|

* Cows in the Meadow
* Farmhouses Among Trees
* Bulb Fields
* Landscape with a Church at Twilight
* Landscape with Dunes
* Footbridge across a Ditch
* Marshy Landscape
* A Wind-Beaten Tree
* Farm with Stacks of Peat
* Farmhouses in Loosduinen near The Hague at Twilight
* Three Figures near a Canal with Windmill

1884|

* Two Rats
* Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen
* The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen
* Landscape with Pollard Willows
* Cart with Black Ox
* Cart with Red and White Ox
* Lane in Autumn
* Water Mill at Opwetten
* Water Mill at Kollen
* Village at Sunset
* Avenue of Poplars in Autumn
* Avenue of Poplars at Sunset
* Head of an Old Farmer's Wife in a White Hat

1885|

* Still Life with Straw Hat
* The Potato Eaters
* Peasant Woman Digging
* Peasant Woman Digging Up Potatoes
* Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette

1886|

* Vase with Red Poppies
* Vase with White and Red Carnations
* The Kingfisher

1887|

* Poppy Flowers
* Wheat Field with a Lark
* View of Paris from Vincent's Room in the Rue Lepic
* Portrait of Père Tanguy
* A Woman Walking in a Garden
* Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase
* Agostina Segatori Sitting in the Café du Tambourin
* Red Cabbages and Garlic

1888|

* Madame Roulin and Her Baby
* Landscape with Snow
* La Mousmé
* The Zouave
* Still Life: Vase with Oleanders
* The Night Café
* The Yellow House
* Van Gogh's Chair
* Café Terrace at Night
* Starry Night Over the Rhône
* Portrait of the Artist's Mother
* Bedroom in Arles
* The Painter on the Road to Tarascon
* Les Alyscamps
* A Lane in the Public Garden at Arles
* Falling Autumn Leaves
* L'Arlésienne
* The Red Vineyard
* Memory of the Garden at Etten (Ladies of Arles)
* Les Arènes
* Interior of a Restaurant in Arles
* A Lane near Arles
* Arles: View from the Wheat Fields
* Sunset at Montmajour
* Farmhouse in Provence
* Orchard with Cypresses

1889|

* Valley with Ploughman Seen from Above
* View of Arles, Flowering Orchards
* Portrait of Doctor Rey
* Crab on its Back
* Two Crabs
* Irises
* Lilac Bush
* The Starry Night
* The Gardener
* Self-portrait (1889)
* Self-portrait without beard
* Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
* A Meadow in the Mountains: Le Mas de Saint-Paul
* A Road at Saint-Remy with Female Figure
* Enclosed Field with Peasant
* Rain
* Cypresses
* Wheat Field with Cypresses
* Green Wheat Field with Cypress
* The Diggers
* The Ravine of the Peyroulets
* Ivy
* View of the Asylum and Chapel of Saint-Rémy
* The Large Plane Trees

1890|

* The Siesta
* Road with Cypress and Star
* At Eternity's Gate
* Thatched Cottages and Houses
* Portrait of Dr. Gachet
* Doctor Gachet's Garden in Auvers
* Houses at Auvers
* White House at Night
* Landscape with a Carriage and a Train
* Girl in White
* The Church at Auvers
* Daubigny's Garden
* Farms near Auvers
* The Cows
* The Town Hall at Auvers
* Blossoming Chestnut Branches
* Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat
* Still Life: Vase with Pink Roses
* Portrait of Adeline Ravoux
* Plain near Auvers
* Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds
* Wheatfield with Crows
* Prisoners' Round (after Gustave Doré)
* Tree Roots
* Landscape at Auvers in the Rain
* Poppy Field

Watercolours|

* Boy Cutting Grass with a Sickle (1881)
* Meadows near Rijswijk and the Schenkweg (1882)
* The 'Laakmolen' near The Hague (1882)
* Church Pew with Worshippers (1882)
* Woman on Her Deathbed (1883)
* Landscape with Trees (1883)
* Peatery in Drenthe (1883)
* Landscape with Wheelbarrow (1883)
* Drawbridge in Nieuw-Amsterdam (1883)
* Breton Women (1888)
* Old Vineyard with Peasant Woman (1890)

Drawings|

* 87 Hackford Road (1873 or 1874)
* Marsh with Water Lilies (1881)
* Sorrow (1882)
* Portrait of a Man in a Top Hat (1882)
* Torso of Venus and a Landscape (1887)
* Head of a Girl (1888)

Museums|

* Van Gogh Museum
* Van Gogh House (Drenthe)
* Maison Van Gogh
* Kröller-Müller Museum
* Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole

Portrayals|

* Vincent van Gogh (1886 painting)
* Portrait of Vincent van Gogh (1887)
* The Painter of Sunflowers (1888 painting)
* Lust for Life (1934 novel)
* Van Gogh (1948 film)
* Lust for Life (1956 film)
* Van Gogh (1956 opera)
* Vincent and Theo van Gogh (1963 statue)
* "Vincent" (1971 song)
* Vincent (1987 film)
* Vincent & Theo (1990 film)
* Vincent and Me (1990 film)
* Dreams (1990 film)
* Vincent (1990 opera)
* Van Gogh (1991 film)
* Vincent in Brixton (2003 play)
* The Yellow House (2007 film)
* "Vincent and the Doctor" (2010 TV episode)
* Loving Vincent (2017 film)
* At Eternity's Gate (2018 film)

Family|

* Theo van Gogh
* Wil van Gogh
* Johanna van Gogh-Bonger
* Andries Bonger
* Theo van Gogh (film director)
* Anton Mauve
* Johannes Stricker

Cataloguers|

* Jacob Baart de la Faille (1928 and 1970; "F")
* Jan Hulsker (1978, revised 1989; "JH")

Related|

* The Vincent Award
* Van Gogh immersive experience

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