Artwork
Still life with a plate of onions
Still life with a plate of onions is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It is held in the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum.
About this work
Overview
A wooden table supports a white plate bearing several onions, a green teapot positioned behind them, a pipe, a book, and a sheet of paper bearing writing.
Vincent van Gogh’s 1895 oil painting titled *Still life with a plate of onions* presents a modest domestic arrangement. A wooden table supports a white plate bearing several onions, a green teapot positioned behind them, a pipe, a book, and a sheet of paper bearing writing. The composition is rendered in the artist’s characteristic palette and brushwork, and the work now belongs to the collection of the Kröller‑Müller Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The work gathers everyday objects—a plate of onions, a smoking pipe, a teapot, a volume, and a written page—into a quiet interior scene. By selecting humble, utilitarian items, van Gogh emphasizes the quiet dignity of ordinary life, inviting contemplation of the simple routines and material comforts that shape daily existence.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting displays van Gogh’s vigorous brushstrokes and a vivid, yet restrained, color scheme. Thick, directional strokes give texture to the wooden surface and the glint of the teapot, while contrasting greens and earthy tones create a sense of warmth. The handling of light and shadow contributes to a palpable sense of space and immediacy.
History & Provenance
Created in the final year of van Gogh’s life, the piece remained in private hands before being acquired by the Kröller‑Müller Museum in the Netherlands. The museum’s collection, known for its extensive holdings of van Gogh’s work, now displays the painting as part of its representation of the artist’s late still‑life oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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.
