À propos de l’œuvre
Doctor Paul Gachet, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · June 1890 · Auvers-sur-Oise, France
Doctor Paul GachetReproduction of oil painting on canvas
Doctor Paul Gachet, doctor and art lover, places his head tilted on his hand. Van Gogh makes his weary gaze, the red table and the foxglove flowers one of his most intense portraits of the Auvers period.
Look at the work
A doctor represented in deep melancholy
Paul Gachet sits three-quarters full, his chest bent and his cheek supported by his right hand. His pale face stands out from the dense blue of the jacket and the undulating landscape. The diagonal of the body leads towards the red table, where two books and a branch of foxglove rest.
This canvas is the second of the two versions painted in Auvers in June 1890. Van Gogh knew a sensitivity close to his own in his model and sought, according to his correspondence, to capture an expression of sadness specific to his era. Color does not only describe the doctor: it makes his inner tension visible.
The overwhelmed pose, the undulating lines and the complementary contrasts transform the portrait into a universal image of melancholy.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
This version of the Musée d'Orsay can be recognized by the red table, the two books, the digital and the simplified landscape background.
A diagonal pose
The shoulder descends towards the hand placed on the table, while the head tilts in the opposite direction. This unstable construction gives the model a tired presence, without relaxing the balance of the composition.
Blue versus red
The ultramarine blue of the jacket occupies most of the canvas. The vermilion table and red beard respond forcefully, while the dark contours maintain the silhouette.
Medicinal digitalis
The purple bells placed in the foreground recall Gachet's profession and his medical practices. Their vertical stem punctuates the large diagonal of the character.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The notice from the Musée d'Orsay identifies this painting as the second version of the portrait of Paul Gachet created by Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise.
Paul-Ferdinand Gachet
A homeopathic doctor, engraver and collector, Gachet frequented many artists. Camille Pissarro had recommended that Theo van Gogh entrust Vincent to him when he moved to Auvers.
The Orsay Museum painting
Van Gogh painted two oil portraits very close to the doctor. This belongs to the French national collections and bears the inventory number RF 1949 16.
The last weeks in Auvers
Arriving in Auvers on May 20, 1890, Van Gogh worked there with great intensity. The portrait belongs to this final period, less than two months before his death.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The painter must preserve the resemblance of the model, the tension of the contours and the very precise balance between the blue of the jacket, the red of the table and the orange touches of the face.
- The tilt of the head and the hand that supports the cheek
- The blue eyes, pale skin and red accents of the beard
- The undulations of the jacket and the landscape without stiffening the design
- The digital, the two books and the contrast of the red table
Work sheet
| Title | Doctor Paul Gachet |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | June 1890 |
| Place of creation | Auvers-sur-Oise, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 68.2 × 57 cm |
| Inventory | RF 1949 16 |
| Conservation | Musée d'Orsay, Paris |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A magnetic portrait with deep blues
The vertical format and psychological strength of the work are suitable for a quiet office, library or living room. Its deep blues benefit from being surrounded by stone tones, dark wood or natural textiles.
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 sheet uses a high definition photographic reproduction from the Google Art Project for the work of the Musée d'Orsay, reduced to 3,000 px and converted into 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.
