Artwork

Adeline Ravoux

Adeline Ravoux, by Vincent van Gogh, oil
Adeline Ravoux, by Vincent van Gogh, oil

Adeline Ravoux is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The painting shows the subject, Adeline Ravoux, in a simple, intimate style.

Adeline Ravoux is a portrait painted by Vincent van Gogh in early 1890. He used oil paint for the work. The painting shows the subject, Adeline Ravoux, in a simple, intimate style.

The work was created in June 1890, just months before van Gogh’s death. It is a quiet example of his late period, focusing on a single figure. The canvas measures about 50 by 40 centimeters. Its colors are muted, reflecting the calm mood.

You can see it at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The painting Portrait of Adeline Ravoux, completed by Vincent van Gogh in June 1890, portrays the twelve‑year‑old daughter of the innkeeper Arthur‑Gustave Ravoux of Auvers‑sur‑Oise. As the inn’s resident model, she embodied the ordinary youth that Van Gogh frequently featured, reflecting his fascination with everyday domestic figures. The work, an oil on canvas measuring roughly 50 × 50 cm, entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on display.

Its iconography centers on the sitter’s youthful presence, suggesting both innocence and the fleeting nature of life, themes that resonate with the artist’s later, poignant self‑portraiture.

Technique & Style

Executed in June 1890 at Auvers-sur-Oise, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures approximately 50.2 by 50.5 centimeters. As a portrait of the twelve-year-old Adeline Ravoux, the composition focuses on the subject's likeness without elaborate background elements, consistent with van Gogh's late-period approach to portraiture.

The handling of the medium reflects the artist's characteristic application of oil pigments, though specific brushwork details are not explicitly described in the available records. The painting remains in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where its physical condition is maintained as part of their permanent holdings. The work represents one of the final portraits created by the artist shortly before his death later that summer.

History & Provenance

Portrait of Adeline Ravoux, an oil on canvas portrait painted in June 1890 while Vincent van Gogh lodged at the Ravoux inn in Auvers‑sur‑Oise, depicts the innkeeper’s twelve‑year‑old daughter. The work was created during Van Gogh’s final months and reflects his interest in family members of his host. It remained in the possession of the Ravoux family before entering the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a portrait from 1890.

The painting’s material, dimensions and provenance are recorded in museum records, confirming its creation in Auvers‑sur‑Oise and its acquisition by the museum.

The painting Adeline Ravoux by Vincent van Gogh, executed in June 1890, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its inventory number is 1958.31, as recorded in the Wikidata entry for the work. The painting entered the museum's holdings in 1958, the accession year embedded in that identifier.

The available sources confirm the Cleveland Museum of Art as the sole holding institution and do not provide information on prior owners, earlier exhibition venues, or display history beyond the museum's acquisition.

Legacy

The portrait of Adeline Ravoux, painted in June 1890, is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it is studied as a key example of Van Gogh’s late portraiture. Adeline’s personal memoir, recounting her witness of Van Gogh’s return after his suicide attempt, provides a rare contemporary perspective that has shaped biographical accounts of the artist and influenced how his final months are interpreted. Scholars cite this testimony when discussing Van Gogh’s psychological state and artistic output during the Auvers‑sur‑Oise period, reinforcing the work’s role in the broader narrative of his legacy.

Overview

Vincent van Gogh's Adeline Ravoux, an oil painting from June 1890, captures a singular figure with a quiet intensity. This work, created during the artist's final months, exemplifies a more subdued approach in his late period. It is currently housed within the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into van Gogh's intimate portraiture.

Context

This portrait was completed in June 1890, a mere few months before Vincent van Gogh's death in July of the same year. Its creation places it among the last works the artist produced, offering insight into his artistic focus during a pivotal and final chapter of his life. The subdued nature of the painting may reflect the introspective period he experienced in Auvers-sur-Oise.

Adeline Ravoux
Adeline Ravoux, Vincent van Gogh

Artist & collection

Portrait of Vincent van Gogh

Artist

Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Adeline Ravoux?

Adeline Ravoux was painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1890-01-01.

Where can I see Adeline Ravoux?

Adeline Ravoux is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Adeline Ravoux?

Adeline Ravoux is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Adeline Ravoux?

Museum-quality prints of Adeline Ravoux are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.