On September 16, in Amsterdam, The Van Gogh Museum surprised the painter's fans with the discovery of a new painting, whose strokes and concept evidenced their authorship of said sketch. After 139 years, Study for 'Worn out' is presented to the public as a preliminary study for the drawing of 1882, Worn out –Worntitled in Spanish – which is one of the most powerful portraits created by Vincent Van Gogh during his time in The Hague. «… While working, I came up with an idea to make people's figures for people», The Dutchman told his brother, Theo, in a letter that was written from his room in the city located west of the Netherlands. «So, from my letter on this topic, now I have some new works». Among these «new portraits» that Van Gogh refers to was the sketch of an old man sitting in a chair, hooded and with his head on his hands.
La Pinacoteca has expressed that the finding of Study for 'Worn out' It symbolizes an exceptional vision of this work process. From September 17 until January 2, 2022Van Gogh Museum visitors will have the opportunity to appreciate this recent drawing and the story that was embodied in each stroke.
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An interest in socially disadvantaged
The small pencil drawing – 48.8 x approximately 30 centimeters – It represents an elderly worker sitting in a wooden chair. This figure appears regularly in the works of Van Gogh, who – according to the museum— He drew this character more than forty times. In addition to showing sympathy for the socially disadvantaged through these sketches, Vincent actively put them under the reflectorbecause for him they were not lower than the bourgeoisie. His passion and concern for the working class led him to paint dozens of paintings inspired by them that prevail to this day as The inheritance of a tormented mind.
The owners of the drawing, who remain in anonymity, maintained the work protected from public knowledge until, last year, The Pinacoteca requested the cooperation of private collectors in a digital database of the Dutch artist.