Still Life with Plaster Figurine and Two Novels
Scene depicted
The canvas illustrates a still life scene, where the delicacy of a plaster figurine dialogues with two open novels. This painting invites the viewer to reflect on the duality between the imaginary and the tangible. The choice of ordinary objects combined with exceptional artistic treatment reveals Van Gogh's quest to capture the essence of simple things.
Historical context
Created in 1887, this painting emblematic was born in Paris , an artistic crossroads of the late 19th century marked by post-impressionism . The canvas is today preserved at the Kröller-Müller Museum , presenting dimensions of 46.5 x 55 cm. At that time, Van Gogh was exploring the subtleties of color and light, elevating the composition to a new degree of expression.
Place in the artist's career
As a masterpiece of his Parisian period, this painting marks a turning point in the artist's work. In parallel with other canvases such as “ The Sunflowers ” and “ The Starry Night ”, one can observe a significant evolution both technically and emotionally, where Van Gogh begins to play with light and the vibration of colors in an innovative way.
Anecdote
“Every object has its story, even the plaster figurine,” Van Gogh might have said while reminiscing about the inspiration that governed him one spring morning in his Parisian studio. The solitude and simplicity of the forms evoked in the canvas testify to his deep desire to capture the inner beauty of each element.