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The skull of a skeleton with a burning cigarette by Vincent Van Gogh Photo sourced from

10 Facts about the Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette by Van Gogh

The skull of a skeleton with burning cigarette is one of Van Gogh’s earliest paintings, though undated the small oil-on -canvas painting which features a skeleton and a cigarette was most likely painted in the winter of 1885-86 as a satirical comment of conservative academic practices. It is part of the permanent collection of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. 

Before it was common to use live humans as models, the academic routine included the study of skeletons to develop an understanding of human anatomy. Van Gogh was in Antwerp, Belgium at that time attending classes at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, which he later said were boring and taught him nothing. 

Let’s take a look at some of top facts about this piece of art;

1.It is probably Van Gogh’s most distinguished painting from Antwerp period 

The skull of a skeleton with a burning cigarette by Vincent Van Gogh Photo sourced from

The Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette is probably Van Gogh’s most distinguished painting from the Antwerp period. When we look at the social and emotional circumstances prevalent in van Gogh鈥檚 life when he painted Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, it is easy to connect the dots, so to say, as to why he painted it.There are possibly several converging reasons that underlie the painting鈥檚 meaning. 

Van Gogh certainly had mental and emotional pressures one of the reasons he painted this masterpiece; he further explained to his brother that it was not 鈥渏ust the food鈥�, but 鈥渁lso all the worry and sorrow that one has鈥�. I鈥檓 very pleased to have come here 鈥� but it鈥檚 been a difficult time all the same. He is often quoted as saying, 鈥淭he best pictures are always those one dreams of when one is smoking a pipe in bed, but which never get done. But still one ought to try, however incompetent one may feel before the unspeakable perfection and radiant splendour of nature鈥�. 

2.It’s likely that the work was painted from a skeleton in an anatomy class

skeletons in an Anatomy class Photo sourced from

It’s likely that the Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette was painted from a skeleton in an anatomy class while Vincent Van Gogh was studying art in Antwerp. A sketch, Hanging Skeleton and Cat, from the same period would appear to confirm this.The work–a stark momento mori–was produced in a time when Van Gogh’s health was poor (due to stomach ailments and rotting teeth) and may reflect Vincent’s own concerns about his state of well-being.

Some interpret the work as being a statement of defiance against Vincent’s faltering health.Van Gogh’s health crisis disturbed his peace for most of his career and life and he could only enjoy doing art than any earthly things. His health finally reached its heights when he later after moving back to Paris decided to take himself to an asylum. 

3.This painting may have been influenced by similar works by different artists

Judging from its foundation and design, the Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette may have been influenced by the similar macabre works produced by other artists including  the Belgian artist F茅licien Rops. It’s known that Vincent owned a copy of Rops’ Uilenspiegel, a satirical arts journal and the work of Rops , The Husbands’ Train: The Death of the Sinner, suggests a clear influence on Vincent’s own two skull and skeleton works. 

Van Gogh may also have been influenced by one of his own countrymen, the 17th century Dutch artist, Hercules Segers, who also produced a disturbing work of a skull. It remains uncertain whether Van Gogh was aware of Segers’ works, but he did, of course, have a thorough knowledge of Dutch painters throughout the 17th to 19th centuries.

4.Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette has two dominant areas of color

Vincent Van Gogh’s skull of a skeleton with burning cigarette in the Van Gogh museum Photo sourced from

Looking at the color palate of Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette there are two dominant areas of color, namely the dark, black, background and the off-whites of the skeleton鈥檚 bones that seemingly stand out more against the dark of the background. If take a deep look at the painting we will notice that quite clearly van Gogh鈥檚 assortment of colors for the skeleton.

There are orifices filled with darker, black paint, for example deep within the skeleton鈥檚 eye sockets, that suggest shadow. We also see various other darker areas on the skeleton suggesting shadow. The right side of the skeleton (our left) appears to be lit up from an unknown light source whereas its left side (our right) is darker, where the light is not falling. 

5.The painting measures 32 by 24.5 centimeters (13 by 9.6 inches)

The Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette painting appears almost like a portrait, the skeleton can be easily assumed to be sitting. It is portrayed from a semi-profile angle. The painting itself measures 32 by 24.5 centimeters (13 by 9.6 inches) and is not a large painting in size. 

The size of this master piece is one of the most talked about topics on the painting itself (the skull of a skeleton with a burning cigarette ) .its not as big as most people could have expected and weighs less than the weight which most people would love it to weigh.

6.Van Gogh tries aptly illustrated the famous adage, “smoking will kill you”

Vincent van Gogh aptly illustrated the famous adage, 鈥淪moking will kill you鈥�, bringing to life an image that has been associated with death for centuries, which is the image of a skeleton. Although there have been numerous interpretations of this famous van Gogh skeleton smoking painting, from it being a mere study in anatomy with a twist of van Gogh鈥檚 humor and boredom to it being van Gogh鈥檚 own interest to represent death as a 鈥淢emento Mori鈥� painting.

Whatever the meaning was behind van Gogh鈥檚 Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette, and whatever the artist鈥檚 intentions were to paint it the way he did, the one thing that is certain is that Vincent van Gogh had a light side to him. Most people always think of him as an artist who had only a dark side more so with his mental health but here he shows that he had light side in him though he suffered with mental illness. 

7.Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette is priceless and is stored in the Van Gogh Museum

The price of Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette by Vincent making it possibly priceless as the painting was always within the van Gogh family and has never been sold or bought. When the Vincent Van Gogh died, the painting was passed on to his brother Theo van Gogh, who acquired the painting through inheritance. 

After his death Theo鈥檚 wife, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, inherited it and it was passed on to hers and Theo鈥檚 son, also named Vincent Willem van Gogh. The painting became a part of the Van Gogh Foundation when it was created and later loaned to the Stedelijk Museum and then to the Van Gogh Museum, both located in Amsterdam. It is now housed at the Van Gogh Museum and is in permanent Gallery in the museum.

8.The Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette has many interpretations

The Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette has many interpretations, with the interpretations of the painting varying, as interpretations usually do. Some consider it a vanitas, a reminder of death and mortality, inspired by his father鈥檚 passing or Van Gogh鈥檚 own poor health at the time. It could be a criticism of smoking, though Vincent loved tobacco and smoked like a Victorian chimney until his death.

The Van Gogh Museum, where the artwork currently resides, dismisses it as 鈥榓 juvenile joke.鈥� Whatever his true intent, I like the idea that Van Gogh was tired of his studies, and adding the drooping cigarette to twist a class project into a mordent self-portrait. Bored to death, taking joy in his favorite vice.This even brings us to the question of the nature of the artist van Gogh. 

9.The painting cannot be dated precisely as there no sources

The Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette cannot be dated precisely as there no sources. Over the years no one has been able to get the exact date this masterpiece seems to have been created and the artist Van Gogh himself did not give a clue of the exact time he did the painting. The dating of this painting has since been a question for discussions for many historians. 

However, at the beginning of 1886, Vincent enrolled in drawing claseses at the Academy of Art, Antwerp, under Charles Verlat, where training was given by copying plaster casts and where a skeleton was available as an aid. It seems likely that this drawing and another of a Hanging Skeleton with a Cat F1361 dates from this time. This would be the only probable time the painting mist have been done judging from his short stay in antwerp. 

10.The artist behind the painting had a longing to make a difference for fellow human beings

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), the artist behind the Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette and other most famous paintings who is one of the most famous artists of all time, used his expressive, colorful work and his eventful life move to inspire people throughout the world.Van Gogh鈥檚 deepest longing was to make a difference for his fellow human beings. After finding he was unsuited to be an art dealer or a preacher, he decided at the age of 27 to become an artist.

At that time Van Gogh had not yet shown much evidence of special artistic talent, but with great determination he found his own way. He taught himself his art through long practice and experimentation, and by paying careful attention to other people鈥檚 work and advice. He often chose to express his ideas by depicting everyday subjects.