À propos de l’œuvre
Les Souliers, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · September -November 1886 · Paris
Shoes, F255Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Two very worn work shoes are placed from the front, with undone laces, on a gray-brown floor. Van Gogh transforms this everyday pattern into a dense still life where leather, seams and folds become almost as expressive as a face.
Look at the work
Two close-up shoes occupy the canvas like a double portrait
The left shoe tilts inward, while the right one straightens and shows its dark opening. Their laces cross in the center then extend onto the ground, up to the small circular spool placed in the lower right corner.
No decor distracts the eye. The background and floor are constructed of gray, brown, muted green and ocher; thick touches follow the folds of the leather and bring out the scratched edges, soles and seams.
Shoes F255/JH1124 are an oil on canvas measuring 38.1 × 45.3 cm painted in Paris between September and November 1886. The work belongs to the Van Gogh Museum under inventory s0011V1962.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The composition is frontal, almost without depth, but the direction of the shoes, the laces and the changes in material create very precise tension.
The dark openings give each shoe an axis
They direct the two volumes towards the viewer. Their deep black contrasts with the lighter tabs and edges of the leather.
The laces connect the shapes to the ground
Their irregular design crosses the shoes then overflows into the foreground. This flexible line animates a composition made of heavy masses.
Material reflects wear
The keys follow cracks, seams and deformations. Van Gogh does not smooth leather: he makes accidents and weight visible.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The Van Gogh Museum notice specifies the dating, format, references F255/JH1124 and inventory s0011V1962.
Shoes prepared to be painted
According to a testimony reported by the museum, Van Gogh bought old shoes at a Parisian flea market then walked through the mud before deeming them quite interesting for his still life.
Another view is under the painting
The museum says Van Gogh painted the shoes on canvas already used for a view from his brother Theo's apartment, an economical practice he adopted several times.
A motif used in several still lifes
During his years in Paris and then in Arles, Van Gogh devoted several paintings to shoes. Each version changes the arrangement, color and degree of wear.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must preserve the asymmetry of the two shoes, the undone laces, the small circular shape on the right, the seams, the folds of the leather and the subtle transition from gray to brown.
- The different inclination of the two shoes
- Black openings and raised tabs
- The precise network of laces in the center
- Light scratches on dark leather
- The small circular coil in the right corner
Work sheet
| Title | Shoes, F255 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | September-november 1886 |
| Place of creation | Paris |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 38.1 × 45.3 cm |
| Inventory | F255· JH1124· s0011V1962 |
| Conservation | Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A still life of gray, brown leather and muted green
Warm gray, smoky brown, olive green, black and ocher make up a sober work for an office, a bookcase or an interior with natural materials.
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 of the Van Gogh Museum has been converted into a real WebP of 3,000 × 2,495 px, 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.
