The artwork, “Doctor Gachet Sitting at a Table with Books and a Glass with Sprigs of Foxglove,” is a sketch and study by Vincent van Gogh, created in 1890 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. Rendered in ink on paper, this piece exemplifies the Post-Impressionism art movement and is currently housed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In this monochrome sketch, Doctor Gachet is depicted sitting at a table. His pensive pose is characterized by his leaning on one hand, with his elbow resting on the table. The table is adorned with books and a glass containing sprigs of foxglove. The lines are deliberate and jagged, conveying depth and texture while maintaining a sketch-like quality. The doctor, often a symbol of Van Gogh’s struggle with mental health, dominates the scene, surrounded by objects that suggest a scholarly stoicism coupled with a subtle hint toward medicinal practices through the presence of foxglove. The cursive writing around the artwork adds an element of personal reflection or annotation, further enriching the viewer’s sense of the artist’s intimate involvement with the subject.
