À propos de l’œuvre
Le Fumeur, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · Around February 27, 1888 · Arles
The Smoker, F534Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Sitting in front of a nuanced blue background, an anonymous worker smokes a small pipe with a spark-proof lid; his brown suit, blue hat and purple-red curtain make up one of Van Gogh's very first Provençal portraits.
Look at the work
A smoker met in the early days of Arles
The model is framed at mid-body, arms crossed on the knees and the pipe turned to the right. His quiet pose contrasts with the quick touches of the face, mustache and clothing.
The background alternates light and dark blues which suggest real space. On the right, a curtain under a red awning could belong to the entrance to a café or serve as protection from the cold.
A study by the Van Gogh Museum published in 2024 places this painting around February 27, 1888, a few days after the artist's arrival in Arles, well before the long-held December date.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Smoker measures 62.9 × 47.6 cm, bears the references F534/JH1651 and the number BF119 at the Barnes Foundation.
A space still modeled
Unlike the flat backgrounds of many later Arlesian portraits, blue varies in light and shadow and creates true depth.
The brush used like a feather
Thin straight features define mustache, eyebrows and hair accents; they mingle with wider touches in the skin.
A worker's pipe
A small metal cover connected by a copper wire protects clothes from sparks, a detail observed with great precision.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The redating is based on the style, the type of canvas, the comparison with An Old Arlesian and the chronology of the first studies painted in Provence.
Around February 27, 1888
The analysis published in 2024 places the table among the first eight studies carried out just after Van Gogh's arrival in Arles.
A worker, not a peasant
Brown suit, vest and striped shirt match worker's clothing. The model name remains unknown.
At Barnes since 1912
Van Gogh sent the study to Theo on May 7, 1888. Albert C. Barnes acquired it in 1912 and exhibited it in his museum since 1925.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy should preserve the spatial nuances of the blue background, the flexibility of the facial touches and the details of the pipe, without transforming the model into a flat silhouette.
- The soft blue hat
- The little lid pipe
- The look enhanced with light green
- The brown suit with crossed touches
- The red-purple curtain on the right
Work sheet
| Title | The Smoker, F534 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | Around February 27, 1888 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 62.9 × 47.6 cm |
| Inventory | Barnes Foundation BF119 · F534 · JH1651 |
| Conservation | Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A calm portrait with nuanced blues
The vertical format is suitable for a bookcase, living room or office. Slate blue, olive brown, brick red and light green match walnut and leather.
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 public domain documentary image measured 4,096 × 5,411 px; it was reduced to 2,271 × 3,000 px in 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.
