Portrait of Eugène Boch - Vincent van Gogh
Archival giclée
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Description
A striking 1888 portrait by Vincent van Gogh, depicting the artist Eugène Boch against a symbolic, star-filled night sky.
Painted in Arles in September 1888, this portrait depicts the Belgian artist Eugène Boch. Van Gogh met Boch during his time in the south of France, and the two formed a brief but meaningful friendship. The artist intended this work to be more than a simple likeness, referring to it as 'The Poet' in his correspondence. He sought to capture the sitter's inner character through a deliberate use of colour and symbolic elements.
The composition features Boch set against a background of deep, nocturnal blue, which Van Gogh described as the infinite. Small, light-coloured marks scattered across this dark field suggest distant stars, creating a cosmic atmosphere that surrounds the subject. The contrast between the dark, cool background and the warm, golden tones of the sitter's coat is a hallmark of the artist's approach to colour theory during this period. The brushwork is visible and directional, following the contours of the face and the fabric of the clothing, which adds a sense of physical presence to the image.
Van Gogh was interested in the idea of the artist as a visionary, and he chose to represent Boch with a certain ethereal quality. The sitter's gaze is directed slightly away from the viewer, suggesting a contemplative state. By placing the figure against a starry sky, Van Gogh elevated the portrait from a domestic study to a symbolic representation of the creative spirit. The work remains a clear example of the artist's ability to manipulate paint to convey emotional states, moving away from strict realism toward a more expressive, subjective interpretation of his subjects. This print captures the texture of the original oil application, allowing for a close examination of the artist's technique and his specific use of complementary colour relationships.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Portrait of Eugène Boch - Vincent van Gogh
Artist Biography
Vincent Van Gogh
He taught himself to draw by copying prints and working through textbooks. His brother Theo, an art dealer in Paris, sent money every month for the rest of Vincent's life. Without Theo there are no paintings. The letters between them, over 600, are one of the most complete records of any artist's thinking. Van Gogh wrote about colour theory, composition, what he ate, what he read, how much he spent on paint. He was articulate and well-read and not, despite the popular version, simply mad.
He moved to Paris in 1886 and encountered Impressionism. The palette changed immediately: from the dark browns of his Dutch period to the colours people actually associate with his work. He met Gauguin, Pissarro, Signac, Toulouse-Lautrec. He absorbed Pointillism and Japanese prints. Then he moved to Arles in the south of France, where the light was better and people were fewer.
The Arles period produced Sunflowers, The Bedroom, Starry Night Over the Rhone. The breakdown followed: the argument with Gauguin, the severed ear (he cut part of his left ear, not the whole thing), the asylum at Saint-Remy, and then Auvers-sur-Oise, where he painted seventy canvases in seventy days before dying from a gunshot wound at thirty-seven. He sold one painting during his lifetime, or possibly two. Theo died six months later.
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