Head of Skeleton with Cigarette by Van Gogh Tie

Head of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette by Vincent Van Gogh, oil on canvas 1886, is a painted oil study of a human skull and upper skeleton, in the mouth of which the artist inserted a burning cigarette, producing an effect that is both macabre and humourous. Probably painted while Van Gogh enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp early that year, the oil sketch is rendered in dramatically lit chiaroscuro, with bold areas of light painted in strokes of thick, impasto paint against a dark, earth toned umber background. This work was among the last that Van Gogh painted in his Dutch period style of sombre earth colours derived from Rembrandt and 19th century Realist painters. Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890) was a Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionist movement known for bold, expressive drawing, swirling brushstrokes and bold, heightened colours. In early adulthood Van Gogh worked as an art dealer, teacher and pastor before taking up the full time study of drawing and painting in his late twenties. Influenced by Rembrandt, the 19th century Realists and Barbizon school, Van Gogh's early paintings featured studies of workers and peasants in sombre earth tones. Moving to France in 1886, Van Gogh met with the startling innovations of the Impressionist painters and began to apply their approach to colour and subject matter, which continued into the mature style for which the artist is most renowned. Van Gogh produced many hundreds of drawings and paintings including portraits, landscapes, still life and flower paintings, and numerous self-portraits that became a dominating influence on the modern art of the 20th century and made him one of the most popular artists of all time.