Skeleton

"Skeleton" is an early Post-impressionism oil-on-canvas painting by Vincent van Gogh, depicting a skull with a burning cigarette, likely created during the winter of 1885–86. This small work, housed in the Van Gogh Museum, serves as a satirical comment on the conservative academic practice of sketch and study using skeletons before live models became standard. Van Gogh, attending classes at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, often found traditional methods uninspiring. The work highlights his interest in anatomy and experimentation, reminiscent of his paper sketches and studies, reflecting the influence of pencil drawing in his early development.