What did Van Gogh trade his art for?

Vincent van Gogh would sometimes trade his paintings for food and art supplies. And in 1883 Van Gogh not only paid 21 guilders for 21 volumes of The Graphic. As part of the deal he also made 4 portraits of the Jewish bookseller Jozef Blok’s parents to get 1870-1880 editions of this British weekly illustrated newspaper. 21 guilders was nearly 7 times Vincent’s weekly rent at that time.

Today 140 years ago, on 18 January 1883,

Vincent van Gogh wrote to Anthon van Rappard from The Hague:

"I had to go to some trouble to get The Graphic. For example, I had to do two portraits (two of each!) of the father and mother of the Jew I bought them from.”

Portrait of Jozef Blok
The Hague, 1883
Pencil, watercolour, lithographic crayon, on paper
38,5 x 26,3 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

You may also like to read:

• Did Van Gogh want to become a magazine illustrator?
• FREE Van Gogh e-book

Van Gogh's 'Portrait of Jozef Blok'

Your daily dose of Van Gogh.

<< previous | next >>