14 Most Expensive Van Gogh Paintings Ever Sold

Vincent van Gogh, one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art, created a remarkable body of work that continues to captivate and inspire. Despite his career spanning just over a decade, Van Gogh’s bold and dramatic brush strokes, coupled with his expressive use of color, have made his paintings among the most iconic and sought-after in the art market. This list showcases some of the most expensive Van Gogh paintings ever sold, each piece a testament to the artist’s enduring legacy and the deep emotional connection that his work fosters among audiences worldwide.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet 

Sold for $82.5 million in 1990. This 1890 painting shows Dr. Paul Gachet, who took care of Van Gogh during the final months of his life. The work is notable for its empathetic portrayal of melancholy, symbolizing the mutual understanding of suffering between the artist and his doctor. It reflects Van Gogh’s psychological state and his struggles with mental health.

Irises

Sold for $53.9 million in 1987.  Created in 1889 during his stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, “Irises” is a vivid portrayal of the garden at the asylum. Each stroke and color choice is filled with emotion, showcasing Van Gogh’s ability to find beauty and a sense of order amidst turmoil.

Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe

Sold for $71.5 million in 1998. One of Van Gogh’s last self-portraits, painted in 1889 after he removed his beard. It is one of his most personal and revealing works, highlighting his intense gaze and the depth of his personal suffering.

A Wheatfield with Cypresses

Sold for nearly $57 million in 1993. The painting, one of several versions he made, is known for its dynamic brush strokes and dramatic expression of the landscape. Painted in 1889, this work is often celebrated for its swirling skies, rich blue tones, and dynamic wheatfields that convey a sense of energy and life, despite the artist’s troubled circumstances.

Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat

Sold for $47.5 million in 1997.  This painting from 1890 reflects Van Gogh’s respect and sympathy for the laborers,  a theme recurrent in his work. It captures the dignity of a peasant woman with a vivid and empathetic portrayal against a vibrant background of golden wheat.

Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers

Sold for $39.9 million in 1987. This work from 1888 is part of a series where sunflowers are rendered in all their vibrant glory, symbolic of happiness and vitality. The painting is famous for its bold, expressive use of yellow, a color Van Gogh associated with warmth and life. It is renowned for its vibrant colors and thick, expressive brushwork. 

Portrait of Joseph Roulin

Sold in the late 1980s for $58 million. Painted in 1889, this portrait of the postman Joseph Roulin, a dear friend of Van Gogh, is a warm, affectionate representation, filled with vibrant colors and expressive contours that depict the character and kindness of Roulin, and the postal employees in Arles. 

L’Allée des Alyscamps

Sold for $66.3 million in 2015. The painting captures a historic Roman burial ground in Arles, which he painted while he was with Gauguin. Painted in 1888, it captures the autumnal decay of the Alyscamps, an ancient Roman necropolis. It reflects the transient beauty of life and the lasting peace of death, themes that preoccupied Van Gogh.

Le Moulin de la Galette 

Sold for $51.5 million in 1990. Also known as “Le Blute-Fin Mill,” painted in 1886, this vibrant scene depicts a popular dance garden on the Montmartre hill in Paris. This painting stands out for its dynamic composition and joyful representation of Parisian social life.

Vase with Daisies and Poppies

Sold for approximately $61.8 million in 2014. This 1890 painting exemplifies Van Gogh’s unique ability to bring emotion and life to simple subjects. It is one of the most vibrant and emotionally expressive of Van Gogh’s works, showcasing his signature style of bold, vivid colors and thick impasto application, which give the flowers a lively, tactile quality.

Vineyards with a View of Auvers 

Sold for $57 million in 1997. Painted in 1890, this lesser-known work highlights Van Gogh’s appreciation of the landscape around Auvers-sur-Oise, characterized by a panoramic view of the vineyards under the expansive sky, symbolizing a moment of tranquility in his final days.

Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear 

Sold for a significant amount privately. Shortly after the ear incident, this 1889 self-portrait is a compelling testament to Van Gogh’s mental anguish. The stark, honest depiction contrasts dramatically with the colorful, floral background.

The Red Vineyard 

Sold for $27.4 million in 2016. This famous painting was sold to the impressionist painter and art patron Anna Boch. Van Gogh created this piece in 1888, and it’s the only painting known to have been sold by the artist during his lifetime, depicting laborers in a red vineyard at sunset.

Wheatfield under Thunderclouds

Sold for $84 million in 1996. One of his last paintings from 1890, this work is a dramatic, almost foreboding scene of a vast wheat field under a tumultuous sky, reflecting his inner turmoil and foreshadowing his death a few days later.

This article originally appeared on Rarest.org.

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