The artwork, titled “Two Crabs,” created by Vincent van Gogh in 1889 in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, is a Post-Impressionist oil painting on canvas. This animal painting is currently housed at Faggionato Fine Arts in London, UK.
The piece depicts two crabs positioned on what appears to be a greenish surface, possibly a representation of their natural habitat. The crabs are illustrated with a remarkable use of color and texture, characteristic of van Gogh’s Post-Impressionist style. One crab is shown from the top-down view, with intricate details of its shell and legs highlighted through vigorous and expressive brushstrokes. The other crab is slightly turned, showcasing its underside and emphasizing the artist’s ability to capture multiple perspectives and forms within a single composition. The background, composed of various shades of green, creates a vivid contrast with the red and orange hues of the crabs, drawing attention to their detailed features. This contrast, combined with the dynamic use of lines and colors, epitomizes the emotional intensity and innovative approach to depicting the natural world, prevalent in van Gogh’s later works.