10 Most Famous Van Gogh Paintings In Paris You Have To See

Are you looking for the most famous Van Gogh paintings in Paris? From the Siesta to the Church in Auvers, this post will show you Van Gogh’s art in Paris!

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) is known today in equal parts for his tragic story and his masterful works of art.

A Dutch Post-Impressionist painter, van Gogh moved to Paris in 1886 where he met other artists like Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin, who went on to become some of the most famous French painters in the world.

He painted over 2,100 artworks during his lifetime but most of his famous paintings were painted during his time in France.

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Though he never became successful and no one took him seriously during his life, he became quite famous after his death and his work got the recognition it deserved.

From the early 20th century, it would be difficult to find anyone who has not seen or heard about Starry Night (1889), or who has not heard of his emotional turmoil that eventually led to a severed ear and suicide.

Though he had a troubled life and was always in and out of mental institutions, he produced some of the most famous paintings ever! In fact, today, his painting are some of the most expensive ever sold in the entire world.

To shed more light on his work and his influence on the art world, we will be looking at the most famous Van Gogh paintings in Paris.

Granted his biggest collection is in the Netherlands where a museum is dedicated to him, but if you’re a fan of his work, make sure not to miss these Van Gogh art in Paris should you find yourself in the City of Lights.

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Famous Van Gogh Paintings In Paris

In no particular order, here are the most famous Van Gogh Paris paintings not to miss!

You should note that these paintings are all in the Orsay museum so you don’t have to move from one museum to another to see them. You can also check out these other famous paintings in Paris.

To get access to Orsay museum, you’ll need to purchase this timed entry ticket or better yet join this Orsay museum guided tour to learn more about Van Gogh’s paintings and other impressionist and post-impressionist paintings housed in the museum.

1. Starry Night Over the Rhone (1888)

“But when shall I ever paint the Starry Sky, this painting that keeps haunting me”, Van Gogh stated in June 1888 to fellow painter Emile Bernard and shortly after that in September, he realized his dream and painted Starry Night Over the Rhone.

This iteration is more peaceful than its counterpart Starry Night (1889) (located in MoMA The Museum of Modern Art, New York), which he painted a few months later.

While Starry night reveals his troubled psyche, Starry Night Over the Rhone is tranquil, with the soft glow of the stars and gas lights creating a warm atmosphere that he captured from the banks of River Rhone.

Today, it is one of his most celebrated artworks and one of the most famous paintings in Orsay Museum. It is definitely a must-see when on the hunt for van Gogh’s Paris paintings.

2. Van Gogh Self-Portrait (1889)

Like many artists, Van Gogh often used himself as a model, mostly because he was too poor to afford hiring models.

He painted 43 self-portraits, with this one arguably the most famous. It is also believed to be his last self-portrait though some historians suggest that the self-portrait without a beard was the last.

He knew that painting oneself is looking deep into your identity, and he subsequently wrote to his brother, “People say, and I am willing to believe it, that it is hard to know yourself. But it is not easy to paint yourself, either. The portraits painted by Rembrandt are more than a view of nature, they are more like a revelation”.

This is one of the most famous paintings in Musee d’Orsay by van Gogh, and upon viewing it, it becomes clear that Van Gogh was in turmoil.

This is evidenced by the swirls of blue in the background and the pained expression in his eyes and the entire troubled face.

Related Post: Famous Paintings by Auguste Renoir

3. L’Arlesienne (1888)

L’Arlesienne translated simply means “the woman from Arles”, and Van Gogh’s iteration is a portrait of Madame Ginoux, who owned a café in Arles and often met various artists.

Having stayed in her cafe (the same cafe portrayed in The Night Café painting) for a few months when he had just arrived in Arles, Van Gogh, and Madame Ginoux became acquaintances, but their friendship developed further when his friend Gauguin started courting her.

She became a true friend, supporting and looking after him when he was hospitalized in 1888. It’s worth noting that Madame Ginoux also suffered from “nervous attacks” herself, which makes her kindness even more remarkable.

Later that year, Madame Ginoux agreed to be painted by Gauguin and van Gogh.

Van Gogh painted this portrait in one hour, while Gauguin made a charcoal sketch (which he later committed to canvas) still in one hour.

This is the first iteration of a series of 6 and it is one of the most famous van Gogh paintings in Paris.

Related Post: Famous Paintings by Claude Monet

4. Portrait of Dr Gachet (1890)

When Van Gogh first met Dr Paul Gachet, he didn’t like him because he felt like he was sicker than he was and that he couldn’t be trusted.

He later changed his mind about him and the 2 became good friends! Dr Paul Gachet became an important character in the last period of Van Gogh’s life and tried to help him as best he could.

Although he was a doctor specializing in psychiatry, he was also passionate about arts and was a skilled engraver in his own right who was friends with other painters like Auguste Renoir, Manet, and Claude Monet.

Van Gogh painted the doctor as a tired man, and his forlorn pose reflects that. There is a little bit of hope, though, as he holds a foxglove (a curative plant) in his hands. He made this painting just 6 weeks before he shot himself.

You should note that Van Gogh painted 2 portraits of Portrait of Dr Gachet which are closely related but different in color and style and the second version is the one that hangs in the Orsay museum.

Related Post: Best Paintings by Edgar Degas

5. The Siesta (1890)

Van Gogh painted The Siesta (or La méridienne in French) while he was interned at a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

He took the idea from a painting of the same name by Jean-François Millet, whom he greatly admired.

He translated Millet’s work into his own powerful work of art, and the blaring yellow signifies his artistic intensity.

He justified copying Millet’s work to his brother Theo, writing, “I am using another language, that of colors, to translate the impressions of light and dark into black and white”.

Though the entire idea of the painting was borrowed from someone else, it is still one of the best Musee d’Orsay van Gogh paintings.

6. Bedroom in Arles (1889)

“When I saw my canvases again after my illness, what seemed to me the best was the bedroom.” These are the words that Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo in 1889 after his stay in the psychiatric hospital.

He wanted to express the tranquillity of his bedroom in the Yellow House through the use of color, and completed three different versions, with this iteration being one of the best van Gogh paintings in Musee d’Orsay.

He was very inspired by the Japanese, and stated, “The Japanese lived in very simple interiors, and what great artists have lived in that country”.

That is the type of repose he wanted to achieve with this painting and he did so.

Related Post: Famous Paintings by Eugene Delacroix

7. Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase (1887)

Van Gogh was also a prolific floral painter, with famous works such as Irises (1889), and Sunflowers (1888) and his Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase is no exception.

Imperial Fritillaries are types of bulbs that flower in spring, which points to the time of year that van Gogh painted the eponymous work.

His friend Emile Bernard would later recall that Vincent was courting the Italian owner of Tambourin Café, and he would often gift her paintings of flowers “which would last forever”.

Painted in Paris, this painting shows Neo-Impressionist influences and is currently one of the best paintings by Van Gogh in Orsay Museum.

Related Post: Famous Piantings at the Louvre museum

8. Eugene Boch (1888)

Van Gogh met the titular Belgian painter, Eugene Boch in Arles in 1888, and wished to paint him.

He described his idea to his brother Theo, “I very much like the looks of this young man with his distinctive face, like a razor blade, and his green eyes”.

He later added that “I should like to paint the portrait of an artist friend, a man who dreams great dreams, who works like the nightingale sings, because it is his nature to do so. Behind his head, instead of painting the ordinary wall of this shabby apartment, I will paint infinity.”

Van Gogh pictured his blonde friend as a star in the night sky, and painted him as such, with his orange jacket and pale face acting as a star against the dark background.

Currently on display in the Orsay Museum, it is a must-see when exploring van Gogh in Paris.

9. The Church in Auvers (1890)

This painting depicts the Church in Auvers-sur-Oise, the place where Van Gogh stayed before his death.

Van Gogh does not imitate the somber 13th-century Gothic style of the church, instead, he paints with flamboyant lines and bright colors.

Rather than an “impression” of the church, it was an “expression.” This style would eventually lead to the works of fauvists and expressionists.

One of the most impactful van Gogh paintings in Paris, this artwork provides a glimpse into how he viewed the world.

10. The Dance Hall in Arles (1888)

Last but not least on this list of Vincent van Gogh Paris paintings is The Dance Hall in Arles.

This painting shows an evening at the Folies-Arlésiennes, a dance hall in Arles, and was painted in collaboration with Paul Gauguin.

While Gauguin painted The Arlésiennes (Mistral), Van Gogh painted the dance hall, which depicts a crowded and claustrophobic room.

Unfortunately, this brief artistic collaboration ended when Gauguin and Van Gogh had arguments about aesthetic differences, which seemed irreconcilable, and Gauguin left soon after.

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Final Thoughts on The Famous Van Gogh Paintings In Paris

Vincent van Gogh’s paintings in Paris are more than just beautiful works of art! They are a testament to his incredible talent and artistic vision.

From the vivid colors of his iconic self-portrait to the emotional intensity of his Starry Night over the Rhone, these masterpieces are a must-see for art lovers and enthusiasts alike.

By seeing these van Gogh paintings in Paris, you’ll be transported to a world of beauty, passion, and creativity that only van Gogh could capture.

Which of van Gogh’s paintings in Musee d’Orsay is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.

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