Stairway At Auvers (1890)
Created in July 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, Stairway at Auvers showcases Van Gogh's masterful handling of color and form. The painting depicts an elderly man descending a stairway amidst lush chestnut trees and colorful figures, embodying a poignant moment that resonates with the intensity of Van Gogh’s emotional landscape. Its swirling lines and vibrant palette reflect the artist's connection to nature and his psychological state during the last months of his life.
July 1890
About the Artwork
Vincent van Gogh painted Stairway at Auvers during a critical and tumultuous period in his life. This painting was created just a few months before his tragic passing, capturing the essence of the village life that surrounded him as he sought comfort in painting. The elderly figure symbolizes the passage of time and perhaps the artist's own grappling with mortality. Van Gogh's time in Auvers was marked by deep emotional turmoil yet profound creativity, resulting in numerous works that reflect his unique perspective of the world around him. The vibrancy and movement in this piece speak to his struggle between despair and beauty, revealing the astonishing depth of human experience.
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Date and Location
The painting was made in July 1890, in Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh spent the last months of his life.
Composition and Style
The painting features a stairway down which an elderly man with a stick is descending. The scene includes chestnut trees in flower, two pairs of women walking along the road, and prominent red roofs of buildings. The composition is characterized by expressive, swirling lines and a compact, almost claustrophobic density. The sky is barely visible, and the overall effect is one of intense passion and concentrated seeing. The painting exhibits elements of Art Nouveau, with broad symmetry, pairings, and wavy, ribboned patterning.
Color and Technique
The painting is notable for its use of white and dilute tones of yellow, green, and blue, giving it a tinted quality. It includes contrasting straight lines in the buildings and deliberate oppositions such as yellow hats, yellow doorway, and dark windows, which add to the dynamic and unstable feel of the scene.
Provenance
After Van Gogh's death, the painting was inherited by his brother Theo van Gogh and then by Theo's wife, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger. It was later sold to Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris in 1909/1910. The painting passed through several collectors, including Herbert Charles Coleman in England and Paul Rosenberg in Paris, before it was acquired by the Saint Louis Art Museum, where it is currently on view.
Physical Details
The painting is oil on canvas, measuring 19 11/16 × 27 3/4 inches (50 × 70.5 cm) unframed, and 27 7/8 × 35 15/16 × 5 inches (70.8 × 91.3 × 12.7 cm) when framed.
Current Location
Stairway at Auvers is part of the Modern and Contemporary Art collection at the Saint Louis Art Museum, where it is displayed in Gallery 218.