Le Moulin de la Galette (Terrace and Observation Deck at the Moulin de de la Galette)
Painting on canvas mounted on panel • Vincent van Gogh
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / Paris Period
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; Post-Impressionist technique utilizing rapid, gestural brushstrokes and a muted, earthy palette characteristic of the artist's early Parisian period.
Creation Period
1886-1887
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 44.5 x 53.5 cm; Landscape format
Subject Description
A scene depicting the outdoor terrace of the Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre, Paris. The composition features wooden tables, benches, and patrons seated under a trellis of greenery. A prominent lamppost stands in the mid-ground, while the background reveals the distinctive architecture of the windmill's viewing platform. The scene captures the leisure life of late 19th-century Paris.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the paint layer appears stable with some natural age-related craquelure visible upon close inspection.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $25,000,000 (Market reference only, as similar works are typically institutional)
Auction Estimate
$12,000,000 - $20,000,000
Provenance History
Originally part of the artist's estate; passed through the collection of Johanna van Gogh-Bonger; subsequently held in various private and museum collections, including the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
Art Historical Significance
This work marks a pivotal transition in Van Gogh's career as he moved away from the dark, heavy tones of his Dutch period and began experimenting with the lighter, more vibrant influences of French Impressionism and the social subjects of the Parisian avant-garde.
Notable Features
Signature style of short, rhythmic brushstrokes; authentic signature remnants often located in the lower-left corner; housed in a period-appropriate carved gilt wood frame with ornate molding.
Condition Issues
Minor craquelure in heavier impasto areas; slight yellowing of old varnish layers; original canvas has been lined for stability.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain controlled humidity (45-55%) and temperature; display under UV-filtered museum glass with light levels not exceeding 50-100 lux to prevent pigment degradation.