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Primary sourcePainting29 July 1890

Vincent van Gogh, 29 July 1890

29 July 1890

A print marking the date of Van Gogh's death, showing a profile portrait with closed eyes.

This print commemorates the date of Van Gogh's death, showing how he was mourned immediately afterward.

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Black-and-white etching of a man's head in profile facing left, eyes closed, with a bald crown, prominent nose, full beard along the jaw, and a dark background. Handwritten signature and inscription along the lower margin.
Vincent van Gogh, 29 Juli 1890, print. Rijksmuseum, Netherlands.

About this source

What it is

This is a print titled with the date 29 July 1890, the day Vincent van Gogh died. It shows a man's head in profile with closed eyes, a bald crown and full beard, and carries a handwritten signature and inscription. It is held by the Rijksmuseum.

Why it matters

The image appears to show a deceased or death-mask-like figure, suggesting it was made to mark Van Gogh's death rather than as a portrait made during his life. Prints like this show how people around Van Gogh responded to his death and began to memorialize him soon afterward.

Look closer

  • What details in the image suggest the subject is meant to look dead rather than alive?
  • Why might an artist choose to commemorate someone's death with a print like this?
  • What does this print tell us about how Van Gogh was remembered immediately after he died?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Vincent van Gogh on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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