Portrait of Dr. Gachet
The artist
Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch painter famous for his bold colors and swirling brushstrokes.
What you see
A thoughtful doctor resting his head on his hand, sitting at a table with a red book and a sprig of purple flowers.
The story
Van Gogh painted his kind doctor, Paul Gachet, in 1890 during the last months of the painter's life.
The style
The blue background and the doctor's face are built from lively, curving strokes that make the whole picture feel like it is gently moving.
Look closer
The purple flowers on the table are foxgloves, a plant that Dr. Gachet used as a medicine in his work.
Where to see it
Van Gogh made two versions of this portrait; one is kept in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.
Fun fact
In 1990 one version sold for a record price, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever bought at the time.