This painting exudes the sadness and loneliness that plagued Van Gogh as a result of the unspoken strain in his relationship with Gauguin.
Van Gogh’s Chair and Gauguin’s Chair, both painted in December 1888, form a striking juxtaposition. Van Gogh’s chair is a modest timber chair, empty and forlorn, with only his tobacco and pipe, while Gauguin’s chair is far more ornate and lavish. It may be that Van Gogh perceived himself as far less worldly and egotistical than Gauguin, and more in keeping with the peasants he so often painted.
Van Gogh’s Chair and Gauguin’s Chair – painted at a time when his dream of sharing a studio had all but disintegrated – are among the most analysed of Van Gogh’s works.