The Smoker
1888 Barnes Foundation
About this artwork
This oil painting depicts a man with a mustache and a hat, smoking a pipe. The subject is rendered with Van Gogh's characteristic thick, impasto brushwork, set against a loosely painted blue background.
Did you know?
While often considered a self-portrait due to its intensity and direct gaze, this work is actually a portrait of an unidentified sitter, possibly a local from Arles. Van Gogh frequently used local figures to practice his portraiture, often imbuing them with a raw emotional quality that became a hallmark of his Post-Impressionist style.
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The Smoker
Vincent van Gogh, 1888
