The Enigmatic Skeleton: Vincent van Gogh’s Unique Artwork
Why did Vincent van Gogh choose to paint a skeleton casually smoking a cigarette? His 1886 artwork, entitled Head of a Skeleton With a Burning Cigarette, stands out as a peculiar piece among his larger body of work, which is predominantly filled with vibrant landscapes and emotionally charged portraits. Some art historians have speculated that this painting was merely an experimental exercise in anatomy for van Gogh, who was still honing his skills as an art student at the time.
However, Anna-Maria von Bonsdorff, the director of the Ateneum Art Museum—part of the Finnish National Gallery—offers a compelling alternative interpretation. She believes that van Gogh was tapping into a late 19th-century trend that revived religious symbolism rooted in the Middle Ages. The inclusion of a skull in the painting alludes to the Dance of Death, a visual motif from medieval art that serves as a poignant reminder of the omnipresence of death in life.
According to von Bonsdorff, van Gogh modernized this allegory. She states, “Because it has a cigarette, and it’s grinning, it has this very modern attitude. It’s death in a modern setting, death as the dandy.” This unique juxtaposition of themes creates a thought-provoking dialogue between the past and present, inviting viewers to reflect on the ever-relevant nature of mortality.
Exhibition Details
Head of a Skeleton serves as one of the central pieces in the exhibition titled Gothic Modern: From Darkness to Light, which is currently showcased at the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki and will run until January 26, 2025. Following its time in Helsinki, the exhibition is set to travel to Oslo and then to Vienna, offering a fresh perspective on the evolution of modern art.
Traditionally, students of European art history are taught about a series of art movements that emerged predominantly from Paris, the heart of artistic innovation. This progression includes Impressionism, which evolved into Post-Impressionism, leading eventually to Cubism and the birth of abstraction. This relentless evolution of the avant-garde has pushed cultural boundaries, gradually steering society toward modernity characterized by increasing color and light.
