In May 1890, after his release from a mental hospital in the south of France, van Gogh moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris, to be treated by Dr. Paul-Ferdinand Gachet (1828–1909). A homeopathic physician, Dr. Gachet was also a patron of the arts and amateur etcher, and suggested that van Gogh try etching himself. Van Gogh drew the doctor’s portrait on a copper plate; the men etched the plate in acid, and then printed the plate on Gachet’s press. Excited about the work, van Gogh hoped it would make his name better known. He planned to make more etchings and give Dr. Gachet the freedom to run off prints that could be sold to collectors and museums. During the early summer of 1890 van Gogh painted prolifically, but despite this artistic energy, his depression returned and he shot himself on July 27, dying two days later. Dr. Gachet was at the painter’s deathbed and spoke the eulogy at the funeral. Van Gogh’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet is thus the only etching that the artist ever made.

In accordance with van Gogh’s wishes, the printing plate remained with the Gachet family. Both Dr. Gachet and his son printed from the plate after van Gogh’s death and around sixty impressions are known to exist. During van Gogh’s lifetime, his art was ignored, but after his death his expressive distortions, use of line and color, and visionary imagery inspired artists ranging from the early 20^th-century Modernists to the contemporary artists of today.

This work is the only etching that Vincent van Gogh ever made , Van Gogh created the etching when he was at the height of his artictic powers and fullness of emotional expression. The etching conveys all the intensity of van Gogh's art. He drew the doctor's face as if pressed up close to the picture plane. the surging, squirming lines and contours generate a pulsing energy. By expressively distorting naturalistic form, van Gogh achieved a powerful psychological effect. As in his paintings, the viewer not only sees--but also feels--the power of this etching.

Source: News, April May June 2011.