At Eternity's Gate
Original title: At Eternity's Gate
kurzbeschreibung
Vincent van Gogh made this lithograph in 1882. It shows an old man seated on a chair, his face buried in his hands. Rendered in shades of grey, the image is immediate and affecting thanks to its precise execution.
Description
A bald man sits on a chair, his face hidden in his hands. He wears a jacket, waistcoat, and trousers; his posture conveys resignation and reflection. Behind him, a wall and part of a window appear. The drawing is monochrome in various greys, with clothing and face finely textured. Frontal light emphasizes shadows and the fabric's surface.
Context
In November 1882, the sheet was made in The Hague, while van Gogh was deeply engaged with depicting labourers and the poor. The motif of the old man hiding his face in his hands goes back to a drawing van Gogh made after a woodcut by Hubert von Herkomer. For van Gogh, the image carried a deep humanity; he saw in it an expression of sorrow and hope at once. The work belongs to a series of lithographs he created at this time for a planned portfolio that was never realized.
Impact
The lithograph's quiet yet penetrating expressiveness speaks directly to the viewer. The reduced colour and clear layout draw attention to the man's pose, which unites melancholy and dignity. The precise hatching gives the sheet a tactile quality that intensifies the emotional depth of the motif.
Technique
This is a transfer lithograph: van Gogh drew with special chalk on paper and then transferred the drawing to the lithographic stone. In this way, the fine lines and hatching of his drawing could be carried directly into the print. The sheet is printed on paper measuring 58.6 × 39 cm and shows van Gogh's characteristic expressive linework.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)