Vincent van Gogh: The Potato Eaters

A Lithographic Reprint (DVD Included)

Before Vincent van Gogh completed the definitive version of his famous painting, 'The Potato Eaters', on 16th April 1885, van Gogh had a small number of lithographs of the painting produced by the printer, Gestel & Zn in Eindhoven. Thanks to the litho, 'The Potato Eaters' would be the first of van Gogh's real masterpieces that the painter's brother, Theo was able to promote among art dealers in Paris. Van Gogh had worked hard at perfecting the painting's final composition. The idea behind the litho was to be able to showcase the painter's progress so far, in the form of a calling card which he and Theo could distribute. Remaining examples of the lithograph are extremely fragile, thus seldom to be seen.

This museum reprint, produced by master printer, Gertjan Forrer at the Dutch Museum of Lithography, means that all van Gogh lovers can now enjoy this 'calling card' from the artist himself. A small run of the litho has been printed using an authentic lithography press dating from van Gogh's era.

The DVD enclosed illustrates how this reprint came about, as well providing and enlightening account of van Gogh's complete graphic works by art historian and van Gogh expert, Sjraar van Heugten, MA and Laura Prins, art historian.