À propos de l’œuvre
Premiers pas, d'après Millet, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · January 1890 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
First steps, according to MilletReproduction of oil painting on canvas
In an enclosed garden, a crouching father extends his arms towards his child who is taking his first steps, supported by his mother. Van Gogh transforms a monochrome photograph after Millet into a tender scene of blues, greens and ocher.
Look at the work
A first step in the arms of parents
On the left, the father has placed his spade and kneels near a wheelbarrow. He opens his arms towards the child in the center. On the right, the mother leans over and holds the small body by the shoulders, just in front of the garden fence.
The flowering tree and tender greens set the scene in spring. The blue clothes of the father and mother respond to the purple of the house; the pale ground is covered with touches of pink, green and yellow.
The child's tiny movement organizes the entire web: abandoned tool, open arms and leaning bodies converge towards this brief passage from one parent to another.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves this work under number 64.165.2. It is cataloged F668/JH1883 and was transferred to canvas from a grid photograph.
A family triangle
The three characters form a low triangle. The mother and father tilt towards the child, whose small silhouette becomes the emotional peak of the composition.
Tools that suspend work
The spade, wheelbarrow and basket recall the activity of the garden. The father has just interrupted his gesture: this pause gives the scene its spontaneous character.
The invented color
The photography used by Van Gogh only provided values. The blues of the clothes, the greens of the garden and the mauves of the house are his personal interpretation of Millet's motif.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
First steps, according to Millet is an oil on canvas of 72.4 × 91.1 cm, painted in Saint-Rémy in January 1890. It bears the references F668/JH1883 and the inventory 64.165.2.
A photograph laid out
The Met specifies that Van Gogh gridded a photograph of Millet's drawing in order to transfer the composition to the canvas. He then completely improvised the color.
Twenty-one copy-interpretations
During the fall and winter of 1889-1890, Van Gogh created twenty-one works after Millet, which he compared to a composer's interpretation by a musician.
Don Richard in 1964
George N. and Helen M. Richard donated the painting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1964. It is now on display in the Department of European Paintings.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must preserve the open gesture of the father, the fragile balance of the child, the bruises of the clothes and the spring light of the garden.
- The open arms of the kneeling father
- The child supported by his mother at the center
- The wheelbarrow and spade left in the foreground
- The flowering tree in front of the purple house
Work sheet
| Title | First steps, according to Millet |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | January 1890 |
| Place of creation | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 72.4 × 91.1 cm |
| Inventory | 64.165.2 · F668 · JH1883 |
| Conservation | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A tender and moving family scene
Soft blues and silver greens bring calm light to a bedroom, living room or family space. The subject is particularly suitable for a birth or family gift.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The Met's Open Access image measures 1,931 × 1,531 px. It has been converted into a real WebP without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
