Picture of the month
April 2019: Van Gogh's Chair
Van Gogh was living with the artist Paul Gauguin when he started painting his chair, in December 1888. The pair had intended to send up an artists’ commune together at the Yellow House in Arles, France.
After buying some simple furniture to furnish the house ready for Gauguin’s arrival, Van Gogh had the idea of creating a pair of paintings, each of an empty chair reflecting the character of its owner. The result was this painting and its companion picture, Gauguin’s Chair, now in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
Van Gogh may have got the idea from a tribute to the novelist Charles Dickens, published in the Victorian magazine 'The Graphic' in 1870, in which the artist Luke Fildes depicted the recently deceased novelist’s desk chair, pulled back, but empty. Van Gogh’s two paintings, however, are reflective of the artists’ contrasting characters.
Van Gogh’s is a modest and simply handcrafted chair with a rush seat. Its rustic style suggests a straightforward peasant with simple values. The yellow tones of the wooden chair, lit by sunlight, remind us of Van Gogh’s love of yellow, and even, perhaps, of his hair colour and complexion.
On his chair we see a pipe and tobacco pouch; a nod to the Dutch tradition of still life and genre paintings in which the ephemerality of smoke reminds us of the fragility of life. Smoking was a favourite pastime of Van Gogh’s, and it might also suggest his thoughtful personality. The significance of the signed box at the back, filled with what looks like sprouting onions or garlic remains a mystery.
Gauguin's Chair
In contrast, Gauguin’s Chair depicts a more sophisticated, elegantly carved and polished chair of a darker reddish-brown wood, such as walnut. It might suggest how Van Gogh saw Gauguin as more exotic, self-assured and ambitious than himself, as well as reflecting Gauguin’s darker skin and hair. The contrast between the two paintings is especially marked by their daytime and night-time settings – as if Van Gogh is suggesting that they are ‘as different as night and day’.
The contrast between the personalities came to an eventual head. Gauguin left the Yellow House in anger around Christmas 1888, and Van Gogh suffered a breakdown. He did, however, return to this painting, reworking it in January 1889.
Related events
-
Category:Discussion, From £10
-
Category:Experiences
Friday Lates
Fridays -
Category:Talk, Free
Unexpected views
Friday, 26 April 2024 - FULLY BOOKED6.30 - 7.15 pm -
Category:Music, Free
Andrew Maginley and Emma Curtis
Music from the time of Caravaggio
Friday, 26 April 20247.30 - 8.15 pm (drop-in) -
Category:Tour, Free
Daily guided tour
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (excluding public holidays)3 - 4 pm -
Category:Course, From £70.50
Thinking about art: Philosophical approaches to art history
Tuesday, 2 April 2024 - Tuesday, 7 May 20243.30 - 5.30 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Talk, Free
Ten-minute talk
Curator's introduction: 'The Last Caravaggio'
Various dates, first upcomingWednesday, 1 May 202412 - 12.10 pm -
Category:Course, From £70.50
Stories of art: 1700-1800
Wednesday, 17 April 2024 - Wednesday, 22 May 20245.30 - 7.30 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Lunchtime talk, Free
Velázquez, portraitist
Friday, 3 May 20241 - 1.30 pm (drop-in) -
Category:Course, From £35.25
Caravaggio: Among the light and shadows
Thursday, 9 May 2024 - Thursday, 23 May 20243.30 - 5 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Talk, Free
Collecting histories: Tales from the National Gallery
NG200 Members' talk and Q&A
Thursday, 9 May 20246 - 7 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Experience, Free
Big Birthday Weekend Late and Light Show
Friday, 10 May 2024 -
Category:Talk, From £18
A tour of celebration
NG200 Members' tour
Friday, 10 May 2024 - FULLY BOOKEDTour times- 10.30 am - 12 pm
- 1 - 2.30 pm
- 3.30 - 5 pm
Members -
Category:Tour, From £20
Archive show-and-tell
NG200 Members' tour
Friday, 10 May 2024 - FULLY BOOKEDTour times- 11 am - 12 pm
- 2.30 - 3.30 pm
- 4 - 5 pm
Members -
Category:Talk, From £18
The Venetian Room: Gallery 29, history and art
NG200 Members' tour
Fully booked.Friday, 10 May 202411 am - 12 pmMembersThe Venetian Room: Gallery 29, history and art: NG200 Members' tour is Fully booked -
Category:Talk, From £20
A contemporary art tour
NG200 Members' tour
Fully booked.Friday, 10 May 20242 - 3 pmMembersA contemporary art tour: NG200 Members' tour is Fully booked -
Category:Creative session, Free
Big Birthday family weekend
Various dates, first upcomingSaturday, 11 May 202411 am - 4 pmFamilies, for all ages -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' talk: The Last Caravaggio
Members' talk and private view
Wednesday, 15 May 2024Talk times- 8 - 8.40 am
- 9 - 9.40 am
Members -
Category:Talk, From £215
A morning with Dr Gabriele Finaldi’s masterpieces
Members' breakfast talk
Fully booked.Thursday, 16 May 20248 - 10 amMembersA morning with Dr Gabriele Finaldi’s masterpieces: Members' breakfast talk is Fully booked -
Category:Talks & conversations, Free
Pause with a painting
Giorgione's 'Il Tramonto (The Sunset)''
Thursday, 16 May 202411am11 - 11.45 am (drop-in) -
Category:Creative session, Free
Creative workshop
A certain kind of light
Various dates, first upcomingThursday, 16 May 20244 - 5 pm -
Category:Discussion, Free
The Painter's Daughters
Members' book club
Thursday, 16 May 20246 - 7 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Talk, Free
Curator's introduction
The Last Caravaggio
Tuesday, 21 May 20241 - 2 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Talk, Free
Audio Art: Utterly in the picture
Joseph Wright 'of Derby'
Thursday, 23 May 20241 - 2 pm (drop-in) -
Category:Lunchtime talk, Free
Competition and collaboration in the 'Raising of Lazarus'
Friday, 24 May 20241 - 1.30 pm (drop-in) -
Category:Talks & conversations, Free
Friday Lates: The Triumph of Art
Ed Hall in conversation
Friday, 24 May 20246.15 - 7 pm -
Category:Creative session, Free
Friday Lates: The Triumph of Art
Life drawing with banners
Friday, 24 May 2024Session times- 6.15 - 7 pm
- 7.15 - 8 pm
-
Category:Talks & conversations, Free
Friday Lates: The Triumph of Art
Laura Grace Ford: Remembering the National Gallery
Friday, 24 May 20246.30 - 7.15 pm -
Category:Talks & conversations, Free
Friday Lates tour and poetry readings
SJ Fowler and guests
Friday, 24 May 20247 - 7.45 pm -
Category:Talks & conversations, Free
Friday Lates: The Triumph of Art
Jeremy Deller in conversation with Mary Beard
Friday, 24 May 20247.30 - 8.15 pm -
Category:Creative session, Free
May half-term
Sensory connections
Wednesday, 29 May 202411 am - 4 pm (drop-in)Families, for all ages -
Category:Course, From £11.75
In focus: Turner
Wednesday, 29 May 20245.30 - 7.30 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Creative session, Free
May half-term
Gold reflections
Thursday, 30 May 202411 am - 4 pm (drop-in)Families, for all ages -
Category:Creative session, Free
Talk and draw
Self Portrait at the Age of 34
Friday, 31 May 20244 - 5 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Talk, From £10
Curator's introduction: Discover Degas and Miss La La
Members' talk and Q&A
Tuesday, 4 June 20244 - 5 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' Preview Tour: Discover Degas and Miss La La
Members' Preview tour
Wednesday, 5 June 2024Tour times- 8.45 - 10.15 am
- 4.30 - 6 pm
Members -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' preview day: Degas and the collection
Members' preview tour
Wednesday, 5 June 202411.45 am - 12.45 pmMembers -
Category:Course, From £70.50
Stories of art 1800-1900
Wednesday, 5 June 2024 - Wednesday, 10 July 20245.30 - 7.30 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Talk, From £20
Sourced's postcard tour of Canaletto
Members' guided tour
Wednesday, 12 June 20243 - 4.30 pmMembers -
Category:Talk, Free
The Sacrifice – Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael in art
Members' talk and Q&A
Thursday, 13 June 20244 - 5 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Creative session, From £50
Folklore & floriography: Scent workshop with 20A Aromatherapy
Members' creative workshop
Saturday, 15 June 202410.30 am - 1 pmMembers -
Category:Talk, Free
A mindful look at Botticelli's 'Venus and Mars'
Members' talk and Q&A
Thursday, 20 June 20245.30 - 6.30 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Tour, Paid
Guided tours of Longford Castle
Various dates, March - September - FULLY BOOKED2 - 4.30 pm -
Category:Talk, From £20
Members' tour: Discover Degas and Miss La La
Members' exhibition tour
Monday, 24 June 20248.45 - 9.45 amMembers -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' tour: Degas and the collection
Members' tour
Monday, 24 June 2024Tour times- 11 am - 12 pm
- 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Members -
Category:Talk, From £18
A tour of celebration
Members' tour
Tuesday, 25 June 2024Tour times- 10.30 am - 12 pm
- 12.30 - 2 pm
- 2.30 - 4 pm
Members -
Category:Discussion, Free
Querying the lives of saints
Members' talk and Q&A
Thursday, 27 June 20244 - 5 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Talk, From £20
Members' tour: Discover Degas and Miss La La
Members' exhibition tour
Monday, 1 July 20248.45 - 9.45 amMembers -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' tour: Degas and the collection
Members' Tour
Monday, 1 July 2024Tour times- 11 am - 12 pm
- 3.30 - 4.30 pm
Members -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' talk: The Last Caravaggio
Members' talk and private view
Wednesday, 3 July 2024Talk times- 8 - 8.40 am
- 9 - 9.40 am
Members -
Category:Talk, Free
Poussin, the storyteller
Members' talk and Q&A
Thursday, 4 July 20244 - 5 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Creative session, From £50
Calligraphy with Flourish & Plume
Members' creative workshop
Sunday, 7 July 202411 am - 12 pmMembers -
Category:Talk, From £10
Sacred Art, Revisited
Members' livestream tour and Q&A
Monday, 8 July 20246.30 - 7.30 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Discussion, From £30
In conversation with Hettie Judah and Amelia Abraham
Member mornings
Tuesday, 9 July 20248.30 - 9.45 amMembers -
Category:Talk, From £18
Members' talk: The Last Caravaggio
Members' talk and private view
Wednesday, 10 July 2024Talk times- 8 - 8.40 am
- 9 - 9.40 am
Members -
Category:Creative session, From £10
Give it a go: Drawing landscapes
Members' workshop
Thursday, 11 July 20245.30 - 7 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Talk, From £18
A tour of celebration
Members' tour
Tuesday, 16 July 2024Tour times- 10.30 am - 12 pm
- 12.30 - 2 pm
- 2.30 - 4 pm
Members -
Category:Course, From £11.75
In focus: John Singer Sargent
Wednesday, 17 July 20245.30 - 7.30 pm BSTOnline event -
Category:Talk, Free
Reflecting on The Last Caravaggio
Members' talk and Q&A
Thursday, 18 July 20244 - 5 pm BSTOnline eventMembers -
Category:Talk, From £10
Pause and reflect on 'The Last Caravaggio'
Members' reading group
Monday, 22 July 2024Session times- 11.30 am - 12.30 pm
- 1 - 2 pm
Members -
Category:Talk, From £18
A tour of celebration
Members' tour
Tuesday, 30 July 2024Tour times- 10.30 am - 12 pm
- 12.30 - 2 pm
- 2.30 - 4 pm
Members