À propos de l’œuvre
Trois livres, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · January -February 1887 · Paris
Three novels, F335Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Three worn volumes are placed at an angle on a yellow table in a rare oval format; the red cover of the upper book and the thick pages give this little still life a very concrete presence.
Look at the work
Three readings in the space of an oval
The books are stacked in no regular order. The lower volume casts a brown shadow, the central book shows a yellow cover with visible letters, and the last one lands across.
The yellow tray fills almost the entire oval field. Its circular touches follow the outline of the panel, while a thin vertical line and the shadows of the volumes prevent the surface from appearing flat.
Van Gogh was a passionate reader of contemporary novels. In this Parisian still life, the book is not a simple scholarly symbol: crumpled covers, open pages and worn bindings give the feeling of works actually read.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Van Gogh Museum titles the work Three novels and dates from January - February 1887. The oval panel of 31.1 × 48.5 cm bears the references F335/JH1226 and the inventory s0181V1962.
A stack constructed diagonally
Each book takes a different orientation. Their angles create a small network of directions in the center of a fully curved support.
Red as a unique accent
The upper cover concentrates the warmest and darkest shade, bringing out the two yellow volumes and the pale table.
An oval rarely used
The format removes angles and tightens the composition around objects. The background keys follow this shape like a halo.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The three novels generally identified are Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola, La Fille Élisa by Edmond de Goncourt and Braves Gens by Jean Richepin.
Contemporary authors
Van Gogh regularly reads and comments on Zola and the Goncourt brothers, whose attention to modern life he appreciates.
An oval panel
The shape of the support makes this small still life an exception in his work and directly controls the circulation of the keys.
Paris at the beginning of 1887
The yellow and red range testifies to the lightening of his palette, as he discovers the colorful research of the Parisian avant-garde.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must retain the oval outline, the titles and letters only suggested, the material of the pages and the clear contrast between the red cover and the yellows of the board.
- The red volume placed across
- The yellow cover with its title
- The thick pages of the lower book
- The brown shadows under the pile
- The circular keys of the oval background
Work sheet
| Title | Three novels, F335 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | January-february 1887 |
| Place of creation | Paris |
| Original technique | Oil on oval panel |
| Dimensions | 31.1 × 48.5 cm |
| Inventory | Van Gogh Museum s0181V1962 · F335 · JH1226 |
| Conservation | Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A yellow and red literary still life
The horizontal format is suitable for a bookcase, desk or above a console. Ocher yellow, brick red, paper beige and earth brown interact with dark wood 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 Van Gogh Museum image measured 7,365 × 4,726 px; it was reduced to 3,000 × 1,925 px and converted into a real WebP.
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.
