Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette
Vincent van Gogh · 1884
Why it's great
A skeleton's skull seems to puff on a cigarette in this funny, spooky, and thoughtful painting. Van Gogh was a young art student in Antwerp when he painted it, likely as a student joke. Skulls have long been used in art to remind us that life is short. It's become one of his most reproduced images.
Where to see it
📍 Van Gogh MuseumAmsterdam, Netherlands
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
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.
