Vincent van Gogh Copies

Van Gogh is considered one of the truly independent artists with a striking and authentic vision. It is interesting then to consider his artworks that are copies of other painters’ works.



Hand-painted reproduction of Van Gogh's copy of Millet's "Noon: rest from Work."

Often the main reason Van Gogh undertook these studies was his inability to be out in nature, either due to weather or his own poor health, at times forbidden to go out. His copying of the Japanese woodcuts and prints was an important step for Van Gogh’s own artistic development.

The technique of copying has always been an important skill for painters from previous generations, especially concentrating on works that they find interesting and inspiring. This too is what drove us to create Van Gogh Studio, as our artists also learn the experience of copying a master, one that was creating some 125 years ago.

Even in Bad Times Van Gogh Painted

One of Van Gogh’s main periods of this work, besides the Japanese copies, was during the winter months at Saint-Remy. At the asylum he was not able to go outside when he pleased as he was often under observation, and the weather was too cold and inclement to work outdoors.

One of the biggest problems though was no access to models. Van Gogh did the only thing that was in his power, and that was to start copying some of his favourite works.

He was a painter, he had made that commitment and he refused to stop, even during this difficult period.

The Copies Became Therapeutic

Van Gogh made copies of works by artists such as Delacroix, Jean-Francois Millet, Honore Daumier and Rembrandt. And in fact, it became a therapeutic exercise for Van Gogh, in a letter to Theo at the time he wrote:

"I started making them inadvertently and now find that I can learn from them and that they give me a kind of comfort. My brush then moves through my fingers like a bow over the strings of a violin – completely for my pleasure."

Some of the copies resemble the original more closely, some go on a more divergent route and as with all Van Gogh’s reproductions there is something of himself there, at times this can be attributed partly to his technique not being quite cut out for exact reproduction, but as well Van Gogh cannot help but express his vision.