À propos de l’œuvre
À la porte de l'éternité, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · May 1890 · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
At the door of eternityReproduction of oil painting on canvas
Sitting on a wooden chair, an old man bends down and hides his face in his fists. Van Gogh uses a pattern drawn eight years earlier and gives it, through color and material, a moving presence.
Look at the work
A man withdrawn before the fire
The model occupies almost the entire height. Its rounded back, its elbows placed on the knees and its hands closed around the face form a compact mass. The yellow chair and the plank floor nevertheless keep the figure in a concrete space.
On the left, a small fireplace brings an orange note. The blue suit, worn shoes and greenish background are constructed by thick touches that follow the volumes. The face remains invisible: the gesture is enough to express exhaustion and pain.
The strength of the work comes from its restraint: no narrative scene, only a body whose each line converges towards the hands and the hidden face.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Kroeller-Müller Museum preserves this painted version under the inventory KM 111.041. It is cataloged F702/JH1967 and bears the official title Sorrowing Old Man ('At Eternity's Gate').
A silhouette closed in on itself
The arms, legs and back of the chair form a network of angles that encircle the torso. The curve of the back dominates and leads directly towards the hidden face.
Cold colors awakened by fire
The blue of the garment and the greens of the wall create a cold atmosphere. The yellows of the chair and the orange of the fireplace offer the only warm accents, insufficient to dissipate the gravity of the scene.
A material that follows the body
Brushstrokes change direction on pants, jacket, floor and wall. This variation separates surfaces while giving the character a very dense physical presence.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
At the Gate of Eternity is an oil on canvas of 81.8 × 65.5 cm painted in Saint-Rémy in May 1890. It bears the references F702/JH1967 and the inventory KM 111.041.
A motif born in The Hague in 1882
Van Gogh had drawn an old man sitting by the fire in The Hague. The model was Adrianus Jacobus Zuyderland, resident of a hospice for old Reformed men.
Painted eight years later
In Saint-Rémy, Van Gogh took up this old composition, but did not just color it: he modified the decor, tightened the figure and transformed the values of engraving into an autonomous painting.
A work from May 1890
The museum places the painting at the end of Saint-Rémy's stay, after a period of crisis. Its creation shortly precedes the artist's departure for Auvers-sur-Oise.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must respect the very compact posture, the key directions of the blue suit, the worn yellow of the chair and the small orange glow of the fireplace.
- Hands closed in front of the invisible face
- The strong curve of the blue back
- The yellow wooden chair and its simple backrest
- The small orange area of the fireplace on the left
Work sheet
| Title | At the door of eternity |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | May 1890 |
| Place of creation | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 81.8 × 65.5 cm |
| Inventory | KM 111.041 · F702 · JH1967 |
| Conservation | Kroeller-Müller Museum, Otterlo |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A vertical, intense and meditative figure
This serious work is suitable for a library, office or reading space. Its muted blues, glittery greens and yellows interact with dark wood, leather and warm gray walls.
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 official image has been converted into a true 2,370 × 3,000 px WebP to allow precise zoom, 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.
