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My Favorite Van Gogh Paintings
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items This is my beginner’s guide to Van Gogh, with paintings, books, and videos that I recommend for exploring his art. These are my favorite resources for appreciating masterpieces like Starry Night and Sunflowers in a simple, approachable way. Whether y...
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use or recommend.
Sections
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Paintings
Videos
Books
Paintings
Discover Van Gogh’s most famous paintings — from Starry Night to Sunflowers. Each masterpiece includes a quick note and a link to explore it in detail through museum collections and Google Arts & Culture.
Van Gogh’s most iconic work, The Starry Night (1889) was painted in Saint-Rémy, with its swirling sky and bold colors capturing both turbulence and beauty.
The Starry Night (1889)
Van Gogh painted several versions of Sunflowers between 1888–1889 in Arles, France. With bold yellows and unique brushwork, the series symbolizes warmth, friendship, and the fleeting nature of life, making these still lifes among his most beloved wor...
Sunflowers (1888–1889)
Painted in 1888 in Arles, The Bedroom depicts Van Gogh’s own room with bold colors and tilted perspectives. He meant it to express comfort and simplicity, though the uneasy angles reveal his restless state of mind.
The Bedroom (1888)
Painted in Arles in 1888, Café Terrace at Night captures the glow of a local café under a starlit sky. Its lively, inviting atmosphere shows Van Gogh experimenting boldly with color and light, foreshadowing the brilliance of The Starry Night.
Café Terrace at Night (1888)
Painted in 1889 after his breakdown in Arles, this self-portrait shows Van Gogh with his head wrapped in bandages. The work reflects both his fragile state and his determination to continue painting despite personal struggles.
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889)
Painted in July 1890, Wheatfield with Crows is often seen as one of Van Gogh’s final works. Its dark skies, bold strokes, and circling crows create a dramatic, foreboding mood.
Wheatfield with Crows (1890)
Painted in Arles in 1888, The Night Café depicts the interior of a late-night bar lit with intense reds and greens. Van Gogh described it as a place of human misery, capturing a restless, uneasy atmosphere.
The Night Café (1888)
Painted in 1890 to celebrate the birth of his nephew, Almond Blossom features delicate white flowers against a bright blue sky. The painting symbolizes new life, hope, and renewal.
Almond Blossom (1890)
Completed in 1885, The Potato Eaters was Van Gogh’s first major work, portraying peasants gathered around a modest meal. Its dark tones and rough brushwork emphasize the hardship and dignity of rural life.
The Potato Eaters (1885)
Painted in 1890, this portrait depicts Dr. Paul Gachet, who cared for Van Gogh during his final months. The melancholy pose and expressive brushstrokes convey both compassion and sorrow.
Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890)
Painted in 1889 while Van Gogh was at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, Cypresses shows towering dark trees set against swirling skies. The dramatic contrasts highlight his fascination with nature’s energy and movement.
Cypresses (1889)
This 1888 version of Sunflowers is housed in the National Gallery, London. Its vivid yellows and bold composition remain a symbol of Van Gogh’s ability to transform simple subjects into iconic works.
Sunflowers – National Gallery, London (1888)
Painted in 1890 shortly before his death, The Church at Auvers shows the village church near where Van Gogh spent his final months. The deep blue sky and distorted lines give the building an almost restless energy, reflecting both his expressive styl...
The Church at Auvers (1890)
During a trip to the fishing village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in 1888, Van Gogh painted boats along the shore and views of the Mediterranean Sea. The bright colors and lively brushstrokes capture the freshness of the coast, offering a glimpse of h...
Fishing Boats at Saintes-Maries (1888)
Painted in 1888 in Arles, The Red Vineyard shows workers harvesting grapes under the glow of the setting sun. It is famously the only painting Van Gogh is known to have sold during his lifetime, adding special significance to its vibrant colors and l...
The Red Vineyard (1888)
Painted in 1889 while at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun reflects Van Gogh’s deep fascination with nature. The twisting olive trunks beneath a glowing yellow sky capture both harmony and intensity, blending observation w...
Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun (1889)
Painted in 1889, La Berceuse portrays Augustine-Alix Roulin, a friend of Van Gogh’s in Arles. The work was meant to convey comfort and lullaby-like calm, with the patterned background and rhythmic brushstrokes symbolizing soothing repetition, much li...
La Berceuse (1889)
Created in 1890, The Siesta is Van Gogh’s interpretation of a work by French artist Jean-François Millet. Showing two farm workers resting in the fields, Van Gogh used warm golden tones and bold outlines to honor rural labor while adding his own vibr...
The Siesta (1890, after Millet)
Painted in 1888, View of Arles with Irises combines a landscape of the French countryside with Van Gogh’s love for flowers. The golden fields and purple irises lead the eye toward the rooftops of Arles, blending natural beauty with the simple charm o...
View of Arles with Irises (1888)
Painted in 1888 in Arles, Vase with Twelve Sunflowers is one of Van Gogh’s most celebrated still lifes. The bold yellows and layered petals capture both vitality and fragility, part of the series he created to decorate his friend Paul Gauguin’s room.
Vase with Twelve Sunflowers (1888)
Painted in 1889 at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, Irises was one of the first works Van Gogh created there. The vibrant blues, contrasted with a single white bloom, show his fascination with nature’s rhythms and his ability to find beauty and calm even du...
Irises (1889)
Van Gogh painted the Olive Trees series in 1889 while living at the asylum in Saint-Rémy. With twisting trunks, swirling skies, and shifting light, these works capture his deep connection to nature and his search for spiritual meaning through the lan...
Olive Trees (1889)
Videos
These videos are a beginner-friendly way to dive into Van Gogh’s life and art. They give context, background, and visual storytelling that make his paintings even more meaningful.
This video breaks down the story and symbolism of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, exploring how it was created and why it became one of the world’s most famous paintings. A clear, beginner-friendly introduction to the masterpiece.
The Starry Night Explained (Video)
In this moving scene from Doctor Who, Van Gogh visits a modern museum and sees how beloved his art has become. It’s a touching moment that imagines the comfort he might have felt knowing the lasting impact of his work.
Vincent and the Doctor – Doctor Who Clip
Books
These are my favorite beginner books on Van Gogh, offering stories, insights, and images that bring his art to life. They’re an easy way to learn more about his work beyond the museum walls.
This comprehensive volume brings together all of Van Gogh’s known paintings in one beautifully illustrated book. A must-have for art lovers, it combines high-quality reproductions with insightful commentary that makes his work accessible to both begi...
Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings (Hardcover)
This Bibliotheca edition presents Van Gogh’s complete body of paintings in a single, beautifully bound volume. Featuring vivid reproductions and expert commentary, it’s both a stunning coffee-table book and a valuable reference for anyone exploring h...
Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings (Bibliotheca Edition)
This biography explores Van Gogh’s years in Paris, where his encounters with Impressionism and modern art transformed his style. It offers an engaging portrait of his struggles, ambitions, and the creative fire that defined his life.
A Fire in His Soul: Van Gogh, Paris, and the Making of an Artist, Miles J Unger