À propos de l’œuvre
Le Zouave, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · Around June 21, 1888 · Arles
The Zouave, F423Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Red Chechia, embroidered black jacket and frontal gaze: Van Gogh confronts the Zouave soldier with a green background and an orange wall, in a deliberately harsh combination of discordant colors.
Look at the work
A dark uniform caught between green and orange
The soldier sits halfway, almost facing forward. The large red chechia falls on the left side of his head. His black jacket is lined with orange, blue and white trimmings; blue pants appear at the bottom of the frame.
The background is shared vertically: a green panel on the left, an orange brick wall on the right. The blue-black contours strongly cut out the face, headdress and clothing. The greenish and ocher skin does not seek a natural pattern: it responds directly to the colors of the uniform.
Van Gogh painted this Zouave during a few rainy days in June 1888, when he worked on the figure in the Yellow House. The half-body portrait F423 must be distinguished from the seated Zouave F424, larger in format and today in a private collection.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
Inventory s0067V1962 and references F423/JH1486 identify the portrait in the Van Gogh Museum, taken around June 21, 1888.
Chechia as a signal
The red-brown headdress occupies a large, simple shape above the face and catches the eye before the details of the uniform.
Two opposing funds
Uniform green and orange bricks divide the canvas. Their contrast places the head exactly on a border of colors.
Simplified embroidery
The braids follow the lapels and the chest in thick curves. They make the uniform recognizable without careful military description.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
F423 belongs to a small group including paintings and drawings made with the same soldier; Van Gogh then experimented with portraits with deliberately strong colors.
A Zouave soldier
The Zouaves are infantry units of the French army recognizable by their North African-inspired uniform.
Painting and drawings
Van Gogh took up the model in several studies, including a watercolor and a drawing intended for his artist friends.
F423, mid-body
This canvas from the Amsterdam collection differs from the Zouave seated F424, where the model appears in a wider framing.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must preserve the heavy shape of the chechia, the frontality of the face and the abrupt contrasts of the uniform against the two-tone background.
- The red chechia folded to the side
- The frontal gaze and the dark mustache
- The black jacket with colorful braids
- The green sign behind the head
- The orange brick wall on the right
Work sheet
| Title | The Zouave, F423 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | Around June 21, 1888 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 65.8 × 55.7 cm |
| Inventory | Van Gogh Museum s0067V1962 · F423 · JH1486 |
| Conservation | Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A military portrait in radical colors
The vertical format is suitable for an entrance, bookcase or office. Red brown, green, bluish black and orange match dark wood, leather and light 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 of the Van Gogh Museum measured 5,598 × 6,687 px; it was reduced to 2,511 × 3,000 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.
