Vincent van Gogh is a famous post-Impressionist painter whose works have consistently commanded high prices at auction. Many of his paintings have sold for millions of dollars, with several setting new records for the highest price ever paid for a work by the artist. Here is a list of some of the most expensive van Gogh paintings that have been sold:
- “Irises” – This painting was sold in 1987 for a record-breaking $53.9 million, making it the most expensive van Gogh painting ever sold at the time. It depicts a vase of irises against a blue background. Van Gogh painted “Irises” while he was a patient at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. He had voluntarily admitted himself to the asylum in 1889 after suffering a mental breakdown and several episodes of self-harm. The painting depicts a bed of irises in bloom, set against a background of swirling clouds and vibrant blue sky. Van Gogh was inspired to paint the irises after seeing them growing in the asylum’s gardens. He wrote to his brother Theo about the painting, saying “I am fairly enjoying myself in the countryside, doing flowers and landscape.” The use of vibrant colors and expressive brushwork in “Irises” helped to define van Gogh’s distinctive style and make the painting one of his most iconic works. The painting is notable for its use of color, with the blue background and purple irises creating a sense of contrast and drama. It is also notable for its use of brushstrokes, with van Gogh using thick, expressive strokes to convey the texture and movement of the flowers.
Canvas – “Irises” is a painting that measures 73.7 cm x 92.1 cm (29 in x 36 in).
- “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” – This painting, which depicts van Gogh’s physician Dr. Paul Gachet, was sold for $82.5 million in 1990, breaking the record for the highest price ever paid for a painting at auction. Van Gogh painted “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” in 1890, just months before his death. It depicts Dr. Paul Gachet, who was van Gogh’s physician while he was a patient at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum. Van Gogh had a close relationship with Gachet and considered him a friend, and the portrait is considered one of the most intimate and personal works he produced. The painting is notable for its use of color, with the green and red tones in Gachet’s clothing and the blue and yellow tones in the background creating a sense of harmony and balance. It is also notable for its expressive brushwork, with van Gogh using thick, expressive strokes to convey the texture and movement of Gachet’s clothing and features.
Canvas – “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” is a painting that measures 73.7 cm x 60.5 cm (29 in x 23.8 in).
3. “Sunflowers” – This iconic series of paintings depicts a vase of sunflowers against a blue background. One version of the painting, titled “Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers,” was sold for $39.9 million in 1987, while another version titled “Vase with Twelve Sunflowers” was sold for $53.9 million in 2007. Van Gogh’s series of sunflower paintings are some of his most iconic works. He painted several versions of the painting, each with a different number of sunflowers. The sunflowers were a symbol of hope and happiness for van Gogh, and he painted them in a variety of arrangements and settings.
Canvas – The “Sunflowers” series consists of several paintings that depict a vase of sunflowers against a blue background. The paintings vary in size and composition, with some featuring a single vase of sunflowers and others featuring multiple vases. The sunflowers are depicted in great detail, with van Gogh using thick, expressive brushstrokes to convey the texture and movement of the flowers. The use of yellow and blue in the paintings creates a sense of contrast and drama, and the paintings are considered some of van Gogh’s most iconic works.
4. The Bedroom” – This painting depicts van Gogh’s bedroom at the Yellow House in Arles, France, where he lived and worked from 1888 to 1889. It was sold for $39.7 million in 2017, making it one of the most expensive van Gogh paintings ever sold. The painting is considered one of van Gogh’s most personal works, as it portrays the intimate and personal space where he slept and worked. The painting is notable for its use of color, with the blue walls, yellow ceiling, and green shutters creating a sense of harmony and balance. It is also notable for its composition, with the diagonal lines of the bed and chair helping to create a sense of movement and dynamism.
Canvas – “The Bedroom” is a painting that measures 72.5 cm x 91.5 cm (28.5 in x 36 in)
5. “The Red Vineyard” (1888) – “The Red Vineyard” is an oil painting that depicts a field of red grapes being harvested by workers. The painting was completed during van Gogh’s stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint Rémy de Provence, France. In 1990, “The Red Vineyard” was sold at auction at Sotheby’s in New York for a then-record price of $39.7 million. Van Gogh was fascinated by the beauty of the countryside around the asylum and often painted landscapes and still lifes of the flowers and fruit that he saw growing there. “The Red Vineyard” is notable for its use of color and its expressive brushwork, which helped to make it one of van Gogh’s most popular and valuable paintings.
Canvas – “The Red Vineyard” is an oil painting on canvas that measures 50 cm by 100 cm.
6. “The Starry Night” (1889) – “The Starry Night” is one of van Gogh’s most famous and beloved paintings. The work depicts a view of the village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence at night, with swirling clouds and stars in the sky. Van Gogh painted “The Starry Night” from his window at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, where he was a patient at the time. The painting is notable for its use of vibrant colors and expressive brushwork, which help to create a sense of movement and energy in the scene. In 2013, “The Starry Night” was sold at auction at Christie’s in New York for a then-record price of $82.5 million.
Canvas – “The Starry Night” is an oil painting on canvas that measures 73.7 cm by 92.1 cm.
Van Gogh’s paintings continue to be highly sought after by collectors and museums, and it is likely that more of his works will sell for record-breaking prices in the future.