Prisoners Exercising
Vincent van Gogh · 1890
Why it's great
Prisoners walk in a circle in a high-walled courtyard, with no way out. Van Gogh painted this in an asylum in 1890, copying an illustration by Gustave Doré. Many viewers feel he was thinking of his own confinement. The painting is a deep expression of being trapped.
Where to see it
📍 Pushkin Museum of Fine ArtsMoscow, Russia
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Vincent van Gogh was born in a small village in the Netherlands and worked as a teacher and art dealer before becoming a painter at age 27. He lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paris, and finally the sunny south of France, where his colors grew brighter and bolder. He painted more than 800 paintings in about a decade, yet sold almost none while alive. After his death at 37, his brother's family helped make him one of the most loved artists in history.
