Vincent van Gogh
This painting of a simple chair resting on a bare floor of terracotta tiles is one of Van Gogh's most iconic works. Created in late 1888, it coincided with the arrival of fellow artist Paul Gauguin in Arles (in southern France). The painting was intended as a pair to Gauguin’s Chair (housed in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam), with the two images designed to complement each other—one chair turned to the right, the other to the left.
The two chairs serve as symbolic portraits, reflecting the contrasting personalities and artistic visions of the two painters. Van Gogh's chair is modest and functional, featuring his pipe and tobacco on the seat, and is depicted in bright daylight. In contrast, Gauguin's chair is an ornate, finely crafted armchair, holding two novels and painted in the warm glow of a candle and gaslight at night.
Those two chairs—mismatched at first sight yet complementing each other—are just like our True Vincent Socks. Check them out in the DailyArt Shop. They will definitely keep you warm this winter!
P.S. A chair is quite an unusual theme for a painting, right? But there's more! Here are 7 extraordinary Van Gogh paintings you’ve probably never seen!