Van Gogh Museum Highlights: 10 Must-See Masterpieces

Painted in 1885, this dark and earthy work depicts Dutch peasants sharing a meager meal after a day of hard labor. Van Gogh deliberately chose rough, almost crude brushwork to convey the harshness of rural life. The painting represents his early social realism period, before he discovered the bright colors that would define his later work. He wanted to show that these people "have tilled the earth themselves with these hands they are putting in the dish." It's a powerful statement about dignity, labor, and humanity.

Painted in Paris in 1887, this self-portrait shows Van Gogh's radical transformation after moving from dark Holland to vibrant Paris. He discovered Impressionism and Japanese prints, and his palette exploded with color. The background swirls with complementary colors – orange, blue, and green – applied in short, directional brushstrokes. His intense gaze suggests both confidence and inner turmoil. Van Gogh painted over 30 self-portraits, partly to practice capturing human expression and partly because he couldn't afford models. This one captures him at a pivotal moment of artistic breakthrough.

Created in Paris in 1887-88, this self-portrait shows Van Gogh holding his palette and brushes, confidently identifying himself as a professional artist. The painting radiates with the bright colors and bold brushwork he developed in Paris. His red beard contrasts with the blue-green background, demonstrating his mastery of complementary colors. The direct, unflinching gaze shows determination despite years of rejection and poverty. Van Gogh painted himself as he wanted to be seen – not as a struggling amateur but as a serious, skilled artist worthy of recognition.

Painted in Arles in April 1888, this joyful work celebrates the arrival of spring in southern France. Van Gogh was enchanted by the blossoming orchards and painted them obsessively that spring. The pink tree glows against a vivid blue sky, its delicate blossoms rendered with energetic brushstrokes. He wrote to his brother Theo that the south of France reminded him of Japanese prints with its clear light and bold colors. The painting captures his initial optimism in Arles, before mental illness and conflict with Gauguin darkened his final years.

Painted in Arles in August 1888, this is one of Van Gogh's most iconic images. He created a series of sunflower paintings to decorate the yellow house where he hoped Paul Gauguin would join him to form an artists' colony. The bold yellows – achieved with newly invented chrome yellow pigments – symbolized friendship and gratitude. Van Gogh applied the paint thickly, making the flowers almost sculptural. Some blooms are fresh and vital, others wilting and dying. The painting became his signature work and remains one of the most beloved images in art history.

Painted in September 1888, this work shows the house Van Gogh rented in Arles where he dreamed of establishing an artists' community. The building glows yellow in the southern sun, representing his hopes for a brighter future. He painted it just before Gauguin's arrival, when optimism still prevailed. The strong perspective and vivid colors show Japanese influence. Tragically, his dream collapsed when conflict with Gauguin led to the famous ear-cutting incident. The yellow house was destroyed by bombing in World War II, making this painting our only colorful record of Van Gogh's sanctuary.

Painted in October 1888, this intimate scene depicts Van Gogh's bedroom in the yellow house in Arles. The simplified forms, bold outlines, and bright colors were inspired by Japanese prints. He wanted to convey "absolute rest" through the painting's calm, simple composition. The perspective is deliberately skewed, making the room feel both cozy and slightly unsettling. Van Gogh created three versions of this painting, showing how important this image of domestic stability was to him. The bedroom represented everything he longed for – peace, home, and a place to work and create.

Painted in November 1888, this symbolic portrait captures the tension between Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. The empty armchair with books and a candle represents Gauguin's intellectualism and sophistication. Van Gogh painted it as a companion to his own chair (also in the museum) – a simple wooden chair with his pipe. The contrast reveals Van Gogh's feelings of inadequacy compared to the worldly Gauguin. Painted during their tumultuous collaboration in Arles, the empty chair foreshadows Gauguin's departure after Van Gogh's mental breakdown. It's a poignant meditation on absence, friendship, and artistic rivalry.

Painted in February 1890 in Saint-Rémy, this luminous work celebrates the birth of his nephew and namesake, Vincent Willem. Almond trees bloom early in southern France, symbolizing new life and hope. The delicate white blossoms against a serene blue sky show clear Japanese influence in their decorative composition. Despite being in an asylum after his mental breakdown, Van Gogh created this optimistic, life-affirming painting. The clear outlines and pastel colors mark a departure from his typically turbulent brushwork. It's one of his most peaceful and beloved works, symbolizing renewal and family love.

Painted in July 1890, just weeks before Van Gogh's death, this turbulent landscape has become an icon of tormented genius. Dark crows swirl over a golden wheatfield beneath an ominous sky, while three diverging paths suggest uncertainty and fate. The thick, agitated brushstrokes and dramatic colors convey psychological intensity. Though often described as a suicide note in paint, Van Gogh was actually painting prolifically in his final weeks. The painting captures both the beauty of nature and inner turmoil, becoming one of the most powerful and recognizable images in modern art.