Vincent Van Gogh, “Le moissonneur (d’après Millet),” 1889, oil on canvas, 17 x 9-5/8 inches, Christie’s

In this ongoing series for Fine Art Today, we take a longer look at the history and features of a soon-to-be-available artwork of note. This week we feature a brilliant painting by Vincent Van Gogh soon to be auctioned here.

Few prominent collectors need a new reason to motivate them to pursue acquiring an original by Vincent Van Gogh, and Christie’s is expecting spirited bidding during its June 27 “Impressionist & Modern Art Sale.” For sale is a remarkable painting by Van Gogh titled “Le moissonneur,” a composition the artist acquired from his contemporary Jean-François Millet.

Imaged with brilliant yellows, greens, and blues, a lone figure stands with his back toward the viewer. Wearing a straw hat, the figure is in the process of reaping wheat in a field. Strong, bold outlines help distinguish the figure from his surroundings, and the impasto texture — so characteristic of the artist’s work — is vivid.

Auction estimates are between $17 million and $21 million. To learn more, visit Christie’s.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.


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Andrew Webster is the former Editor of Fine Art Today and worked as an editorial and creative marketing assistant for Streamline Publishing. Andrew graduated from The University of North Carolina at Asheville with a B.A. in Art History and Ceramics. He then moved on to the University of Oregon, where he completed an M.A. in Art History. Studying under scholar Kathleen Nicholson, he completed a thesis project that investigated the peculiar practice of embedded self-portraiture within Christian imagery during the 15th and early 16th centuries in Italy.

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