Sorrowing Old Man (At Eternity's Gate)
Painting on canvas • Vincent van Gogh
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / Expressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil painting using impasto, rhythmic brushstrokes, and expressive color palette with high density of pigment during his Saint-Rémy period.
Creation Period
May 1890
Dimensions & Format
81 cm x 65 cm (31.9 in x 25.6 in); Portrait format
Subject Description
A grief-stricken war veteran sitting on a simple wooden chair, face buried in clenched fists. The image serves as a profound meditation on mortality, despair, and the inner struggle of the human spirit.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (based on museum records for the original Kröller-Müller Museum piece)
Estimated Market Value
$80 million – $120+ million USD (based on current demand for late-period Van Gogh masterworks)
Auction Estimate
$70 million – $100 million USD
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of Theo van Gogh and Johanna van Gogh-Bonger; acquired through several private collectors before entering the Kröller-Müller Museum collection.
Art Historical Significance
A seminal work completed shortly before the artist's death; it reimagines a lithograph he made in 1882, symbolizing his lifelong preoccupation with the human condition and religious existentialism.
Notable Features
Features the vibrant 'Crome Yellow' and 'Ultramarine' contrasts typical of Saint-Rémy; the composition utilizes forced perspective to heighten the emotional claustrophobia.
Condition Issues
Stable light craquelure, typical of late 19th-century oils; no major losses or extensive restorations noted in recent conservation reports.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable temperature (20°C) and relative humidity (50%); utilize UV-filtering glass and low-lumen LED lighting to prevent pigment fading.