Practising with Still Lifes

Van Gogh believed that painting still lifes was the vital beginning of his profession. One could use still lifes as exercises to master artistic skills such as the use of colour and the treatment of paint. Van Gogh's first painting – a still life with a cabbage and wooden shoes – was an exercise of this kind.

When he later went to Paris, he was confronted with the colourful paintings being produced by French artists. He quickly revised his old-fashioned painting style and use of colour. He experimented copiously with new styles and colours in still lifes. In his first year in Paris he produced a staggering total of ninety of such works.

If we study the still lifes that Van Gogh made over the years, his development is clear to see.

A still life was a cheap, popular subject. You could compose it yourself and then work on it at your leisure. An added advantage was that these simple little scenes were easy to sell.