Van Gogh signed only 15% of his paintings, study finds

A new study by the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has revealed that Vincent van Gogh signed only about 15 percent of his known works. Out of 840 known paintings, the artist signed only 133.

Researchers suggest a correlation between the frequency of his signature and his mental health, self-esteem, and artistic confidence. During his early career, Van Gogh often viewed his works as mere studies and was highly critical of his own skill. His letters to his brother, Theo, reflect ongoing doubts regarding his identity and the quality of his art.

The pattern shifted during his time in Paris and Arles between 1886 and 1889, a period marked by higher productivity and a desire to exhibit and sell his work. However, as his emotional state declined, so did his tendency to sign paintings. Notably, during his year-long stay in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, he produced 151 paintings but signed very few, including his famous work ‘The Starry Night’.