Dr. Gachet (Man with a Pipe)
1890
Medium
etching on Japanese paper
Dimensions
plate: 18.2 x 15 cm (7 3/16 x 5 7/8 in.) sheet: 40.1 x 28.2 cm (15 13/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.8221
Art Historical Context
Vincent van Gogh's *Dr. Gachet (Man with a Pipe)*, created in 1890, the artist's close friend and physician, Dr. Paul G, in a poignant etched portrait from the final months of Van Gogh life. Produced during his stay in Auvers-sur-O, France, this work reflects the Post-Impressionist's intense emotional depth and innovative spirit, even as his mental health struggles intensified. The intimate depiction of Gachet smoking a pipe conveys quiet melancholy and humanity, echoing themes of solace and introspection central to Van Gogh's oeuvre. This rare etching on Japanese paper showcases Van Gogh's b...
About the Artist
Vincent van Gogh · 1853–1890
Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853-1890) stands as one of the most influential figures in Western art history, despite a career spanning merely a decade. Born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands, to a Protestant pastor's family, van Gogh's path to artistic greatness was anything but conventional. His early adulthood saw him working as an art dealer for Goupil & Cie, a language teacher, and a fervent missiona...