Artwork
Still Life with Plaster Statuette, a Rose and Two Novels
Still Life with Plaster Statuette, a Rose and Two Novels is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum.
About this work
Overview
Vincent van Gogh’s 1887 oil painting titled *Still Life with Plaster Statuette, a Rose and Two Novels* presents a modest domestic arrangement.
Vincent van Gogh’s 1887 oil painting titled *Still Life with Plaster Statuette, a Rose and Two Novels* presents a modest domestic arrangement. The composition is anchored by a plaster figure of a standing woman, a single rose, and a pair of books placed together on a flat surface, all set against a warm, yellowish backdrop. The work is part of the collection of the Kröller‑Müller Museum in the Netherlands.
Subject & Meaning
The still‑life gathers objects that suggest quiet intellectual and aesthetic pursuits: a classical plaster figure, a fresh flower, and two volumes of literature. By juxtaposing the timeless form of the statuette with the fleeting beauty of the rose and the permanence of printed text, the painting invites contemplation of art, nature, and knowledge within an intimate interior space.
Technique & Style
Van Gogh employs a dense impasto application, allowing the paint to stand out in palpable strokes that give the surface a tactile quality. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted yellows, soft greens, and subdued blues, which together create a subdued atmosphere. The visible brushwork and textured surface emphasize the materiality of the medium while reinforcing the work’s contemplative tone.
History & Provenance
Created during van Gogh’s Dutch period in 1887, the painting remained in private hands before being acquired by the Kröller‑Müller Museum, where it is displayed among the artist’s early works. Its presence in the museum’s collection highlights the development of van Gogh’s still‑life practice prior to his later, more celebrated periods.
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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.
