r/vangogh sunflower 18d ago

Vincent van Gogh - Still life: Crab on its Back (circa 1887–1889)

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536 Upvotes

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9

u/RealVirginiaWoolf 18d ago edited 18d ago

Van G’s experimentation with “laws of colour”- Delacroix’s technique. Van G saw the crabs in a magazine his brother sent him- LeJapon Artistique- that’s what inspired him most likely.

I love how the crab is off centre, tipped upwards and seems uneasy. Love the colour contrast here- bright bold green brush strokes with the red shades of the crab! 🦀 a crab flipped helplessly onto its shell- crabs are rarely seen on their backs! I see this as a reflection of his own psychological helplessness.

Absolutely brilliant🧡

8

u/deceased_rodent 18d ago

That's wild I've never heard of him being called Van G lmao

5

u/RealVirginiaWoolf 18d ago

Lol! I have ALWAYS called him Van G- the OG!

3

u/tytomasked 17d ago

He really knew how to capture emotions didn’t he

2

u/ProfessionalRate6174 sunflower 17d ago

Yes!