Most Expensive Van Gogh Painting – Rare Van Gogh Paintings

Ever seen the 2017 biographical movie Loving Vincent and immediately regained your appreciation for the artist Vincent van Gogh? Given the artist’s immense contribution to art history and Impressionism, this article will give you a run-down of some of the artist’s most expensive paintings.

Most Expensive Van Gogh Paintings

Highly valued and previously misunderstood, creative genius and Dutch artist, Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853-1890) is a name known to all. Whether you are an art lover or scholar, the works of Van Gogh were sure to cross your path. Recognized for his dreamlike post-Impressionistic oil paintings, Van Gogh’s artistic repertoire includes portraiture, scenery depicting flowers, orchards, and many self-portraits of high value. Below, you will find 12 of the most expensive Van Gogh paintings to date, with many of the works informed by the artist’s last two years prior to death.

Street Scene in Montmartre (1887): $15.4 Million

Scène de rue à Montmartre (Impasse des Deux Frères et le Moulin à Poivre) was confirmed by the Van Gogh Museum as being an authentic artwork after being discovered by a private collector and placed for sale in Paris at Sotheby’s.

The rare Van Gogh painting had not been in the public eye since the time it was painted in 1887 and eventually sold for $15.4 million.

Van Gogh’s Street Scene in Montmartre was the star of the auction among other pieces by famous Impressionists such as Amedeo Clemente Modigliani, Edgar Degas, as well as French sculptor Camille Rosalie Claudel.

Street Scene in Montmartre (1887) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The painting had been housed by a family for 135 years and depicts an image of a woman, a man, and a little girl in front of a pepper mill located in an old village in Montmartre. Montmartre was once occupied by Van Gogh and his brother, a Dutch art dealer, Theo van Gogh.

Since Vincent van Gogh wrote quite often to his brother, we can conclude that this piece is of high sentimentality to Vincent and most definitely a worthy investment on the collector’s part.

Champs près des Alpilles (1889): $51 Million

Sold at Christie’s for just over $51 million, Champs près des Alpilles (Fields near the Alpilles) topped the initial sale value of Sunflowers. After being in the possession of previous owners, Yves Saint Laurent, and Pierre Bergé, the landscape painting was acquired in May 2022 by a private collector.

Van Gogh described the landscape, as shown in Fields near the Alpilles, in a letter he wrote to his brother, as “a wheatfield with a background of lilac mountains and a dark tree”, conveying the artist’s source of inspiration for many of his landscape paintings at the asylum.

The painting was then gifted to a close friend, Joseph Roulin, who offered much support to Van Gogh during his last year in Arles.

Champs près des Alpilles (Fields near the Alpilles) (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Champs près des Alpilles is a beautiful token of friendship between Van Gogh and Roulin and was also a record of the artist’s fervent desire for expression through the rural landscape. As seen in correspondence with his other close friends, Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin, Van Gogh passionately expressed his new goals of producing art that gave off an “impression of anxiety” through other means involving painting images of daily life as it was and not through the front of “gentle subjects”.

Van Gogh’s resolution propelled him to paint with such passion that his paintings started to “smell like the soil”.

L’Allee Des Alyscamps (1888): $66 Million

Produced as part of a pair, L’Allee Des Alyscamps (Falling Autumn Leaves) vibrancy caught the attention of a private buyer in 2015 and was sold for $66 million. Considering the bidding value climbed significantly since its last auction valuation in 1998, we can only conclude that the value has increased.

The painting was created during a time when Van Gogh’s art companion, Paul Gauguin, visited him in Arles in October of 1888.

The scenery showcased is of the well-known “lover’s lane” of France, where couples were seen frequently taking romantic evening strolls. The duo painted alongside each other and even compared paintings on the topic, with Gauguin’s version titled, Alyscamps and Van Gogh’s, Les Alyscamps.

 L’Allee Des Alyscamps (Falling Autumn Leaves) (1888) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat (1890): $70.4 Million

Captured only a few weeks prior to the talented artist ending his life, Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat is one of the very last paintings made by Van Gogh and can be considered as one of the rare Van Gogh paintings. The painting sold for $47.5 million in 1997 on a private sale and was resold in 2005 for over $100 million.

The manner of painting is likened to that of a three-dimensional quality, especially on the face of the peasant woman.

The thick, impasto application of paint on her face adds to this quality and brings to life her bodily vessel, as shown by her blue dress with red dots. Skillfully bringing his subject to the forefront in this manner, Van Gogh, in his last days, displayed his mastery over oil painting, specific to his experience and with utmost integrity towards his passion for Impressionism.

Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat (1890) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe (1889): $71.5 Million

Reportedly the last self-portrait of the artist himself and one of the rare Van Gogh paintings, Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe (Self Portrait without Beard) sold for $71.5 million in 1998, which during the time, placed the painting as the third most expensive painting sold. The painting was believed to be painted shortly after Van Gogh was admitted for cutting off his ear, followed by his newly shaven “look”, as depicted in the self-portrait.

The painting was also a gift sent to Van Gogh’s mother by the artist himself on her 70th birthday.

Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe (Portrait of the artist without beard) (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Labourer in a Field (1889): $81.3 Million

The impressionistic nature of Laboureur dans un champ is clear through Van Gogh’s child-like use of short blue and yellow strokes to create an impression of the laborers he saw passing by in the field. Van Gogh witnessed this scene frequently from the asylum where he was living in during the last year of his life at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémyand.

He began the painting in August of 1889, which was a jump from not practicing in his studio for over a month.

Van Gogh suffered from mental health issues, described by members of the institution as a “frenzied state of mind”. The painting was sold at Christie’s in 2017 to an anonymous buyer for a total of $81.3 million, closely following the initial selling price of Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet.

Laboureur dans un champ (Labourer in a Field) (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sunflowers (Arles Series): Vase with fifteen flowers (1888): $84.2 Million

Another prominent sunflower painting by Van Gogh is Vase with fifteen flowers, which sold for approximately $39.7 million in 1987. Later on, the Van Gogh Sunflowers price was revised and deemed to be worth $84.2 million.

It has been stated that Van Gogh’s purpose for this painting was to serve as decor for his home in hope of a visit from fellow artist, Gauguin.

Vase with fifteen flowers (1888) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Wheatfield with Cypresses (1889): $94.1 Million

Inspired by the artist’s view from his asylum window, Van Gogh painted a series of wheatfields, one of which is now valued at $94.1 million. Wheatfield with Cypresses depicts the field in front of the Alpilles mountains with ripe gold wheat swaying in the wind, a cypress tree, and a few other olive trees, said to have been captured in September of 1889.

The initial private sale price was $57 million, sold by Dieter Bührle.

Wheatfield with Cypresses (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sunflowers (1889): +$100 Million

The famed Van Gogh Sunflowers is an iconic painting, considered to be a “classic” of some of the artist’s greatest works. The unrefined nature of Van Gogh’s style in painting sunflowers and other flora is what the artist enjoyed the most.

The sunflower features in several of his paintings, indicating the artist’s keen interest in still life and sunflowers.

For Van Gogh, the sunflowers held a special place in his heart and acted as a signifier of “gratitude”. This Van Gogh Sunflowers painting price is speculated to be worth “seven hundred million dollars” since the sunflower is recognized as a key symbol of the artist’s legacy, as intended by Van Gogh himself.

Sunflowers (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Irises (1889): $111.2 Million

This Japanese woodblock print-inspired artwork by Van Gogh is one of the top most expensive Van Gogh paintings due to its colorful depiction of irises and bold lines for added definition. The painting was made a year before the artist’s death and initially fetched $53.9 million from a Sotheby’s auction in 1987.

The last resting place of the painting settled in 1990 with the J. Paul Getty Museum, with its inflation-informed price ranking the painting 31st among the updated list of the most expensive paintings sold.

Irises (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Portrait of Joseph Roulin (1889): $113 Million

Acquired by the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1989 for $58 million, Portrait of Joseph Roulin is one of many portraits of the artist’s close friend and now valued as one of the most expensive Van Gogh paintings to date. The current value has been adjusted to $113 million, which is a massive jump since the initial sale.

Joseph Roulin was painted as he appeared in his postman uniform, capturing Van Gogh’s view of his dear friend in the moment and with a lot of care towards the composition of the background of the painting.

The significance behind the portrait could not have been described any better by none other than Van Gogh himself who stated, “I want to paint men and women with that something of the eternal which the halo used to symbolize, and which we try to convey by the actual radiance and vibration of our coloring.”

Portrait of Joseph Roulin (1889) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet (1890): $152 Million

Sold in 1990 for a whopping $83 million, Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet, painted in 1890, is the most expensive Van Gogh painting. This Van Gogh painting’s price generally span the millions; hence the current estimated value sits at $152 million. Serving as the “heartbroken expression of our time”, Van Gogh decided to paint a portrait of one of his close friends who also happened to be his doctor, specializing in alternative medicine. Van Gogh made two paintings of this kind, with the second painting currently housed in Paris at the Musée d’Orsay.

The close relationship between Gachet and Van Gogh is one of the contributing factors that makes the price of this painting so high. Auctioned at Christie’s, there were many Japanese buyers who took interest in the trending style of Impressionism and Van Gogh’s Post-Impressionism portrait.

Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet (1890) by Vincent van Gogh; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet was acquired by Ryoei Saito, a Japanese businessman who cherished the portrait so much that he even wished to be cremated with it. Luckily, this did not happen, and the painting was sold again to another buyer. The painting seemed to travel around until it found a suitable host.

The second buyer did not keep the painting for very long due to financial reasons and the Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet was at last sold off to an anonymous billionaire in Europe. Another reason why this painting is considered one of the most expensive paintings of Van Gogh is that Dr. Gachet was the last person who cared for Van Gogh on his deathbed in the very same year.

Many Van Gogh painting prices range from $15 million through to hundreds of millions of dollars – and are sure to climb in the later future. Other famous painters whose price rank outshines that of Van Gogh include works by Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Paul Cézanne, and Nafea Faa Ipoipo.

Take a look at our expensive Van Gogh paintings webstory here!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism?

Impressionism is an art movement that emerged in the later year of the 1800s and marked a turning point among artists who chose to embrace modernity and refuse the idea of making artwork informed by classical themes. Post-Impressionism is a French art movement that developed between 1886 and the early 1900s and speaks to a chain reaction that emerged from the age of Impressionism regarding the depiction of color and a transition away from naturalistic representations in color.

What Is the Most Expensive Painting in the World?

According to the recent list of most expensive paintings across the globe, the Mona Lisa (1503) by Leonardo da Vinci stands at number one, valued at $860 million.

What Was the Relationship Between Gauguin and Van Gogh?

Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh first crossed paths in 1887 in Paris. Van Gogh was a fan of Gauguin’s work and considered him to be a potential mentor. Van Gogh sent multiple invitations to Gauguin and after being convinced by Theo (Art dealer for Gauguin), Gauguin joined Van Gogh in Arles where their friendship experienced ups and downs. It has been said that Gauguin leaving Arles was a major contributing factor to the so-called last straw leading up to Van Gogh cutting off his own ear. 

How Many Paintings Did Van Gogh Create?

Van Gogh produced just over 900 paintings in his lifetime, consisting of portraits, sunflowers, landscapes, and self-portraits in addition to postcards and letters.

What Other Mediums Did Van Gogh Use?

Other than oil painting, Van Gogh also produced works via watercolor, drawing, etching, lithography, and sketches.

When Did Van Gogh Start Painting?

Van Gogh’s earliest paintings were created in his late 20s during 1881 and 1882. This is when the artist is said to have begun his serious exploration into the arts. Earlier artworks made by Van Gogh were created during his schooling years and consisted of watercolors and drawings.

Who Was Van Gogh Influenced By?

Van Gogh was influenced by multiple factors throughout his lifetime. Early factors include his tendency towards asceticism and spirituality through the act of painting. Van Gogh was a modern art practitioner, and this furthered his inclination toward Impressionism and post-Impressionism. In his personal life, the artist suffered from great bouts of depression and moments of isolation which contributed to the artist’s later works. The environment is also a major feature as Van Gogh also painted numerous landscape studies and flowers.

Isabella Meyer( Head of Content, Editor, Art Writer )

Isabella studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature & Language and Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate years, she took Art History as an additional subject and absolutely loved it. Building on from her art history knowledge that began in high school, art has always been a particular area of fascination for her. From learning about artworks previously unknown to her, or sharpening her existing understanding of specific works, the ability to continue learning within this interesting sphere excites her greatly.

Her focal points of interest in art history encompass profiling specific artists and art movements, as it is these areas where she is able to really dig deep into the rich narrative of the art world. Additionally, she particularly enjoys exploring the different artistic styles of the 20^th century, as well as the important impact that female artists have had on the development of art history.

Learn more about Isabella Meyer and the Art in Context Team.