The Real Meaning Behind van Gogh’s “Portrait of Dr. Gachet”

<p><em>This article discusses depression, mental health issues, and suicide.</em></p> <p>Vincent van Gogh&rsquo;s artworks have captivated me since I was very young. When I first discovered art and painting, I immediately declared van Gogh my favorite artist. But his story is not a happy one. Throughout the years, I have taken some time in exploring it.&nbsp;<em>Portrait of Dr. Gachet&nbsp;</em>is heavily intertwined in a way that is not frequently mentioned.</p> <p><em>Portrait of Dr. Gachet</em>&nbsp;is arguably one of van Gogh&rsquo;s more famous pieces, although it hasn&rsquo;t made its way around quite like&nbsp;<em>Starry Starry Night&nbsp;</em>or van Gogh&rsquo;s self-portrait. But I believe that there is no painting that tells a story quite like&nbsp;<em>Portrait of Dr. Gachet</em>. It is intertwined with van Gogh&rsquo;s life, with his depression. The painting is frequently referenced as one of the saddest paintings of all time. But there is much more to it than that.</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:770/0*r4-CPGgHCljYNnF0.jpg" style="height:862px; width:700px" /></p> <p>Portrait of Dr. Gachet</p> <p><em>Portrait of Dr. Gachet&nbsp;</em>was painted a short while after van Gogh was released from a mental asylum, where he had stayed for a year after cutting off his own ear. A former patient of Dr. Gachet&rsquo;s had recommended to van Gogh&rsquo;s brother that Van Gogh visit Dr. Gachet and stay with him.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/everything-art/the-real-meaning-behind-van-goghs-portrait-of-dr-gachet-8ce54a3647b4"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>
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