START WITH ART: Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette

Hello! We're starting our day by examining the skeleton painting by Vincent van Gogh pictured below. Take a look at the artwork then read the questions to the students/children in your life and see how starting your day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking!

Title: Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette

Artist: Vincent van Gogh

Date: 1886

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 32.3 x 24.8 cm

Start with Art Questions: 

• Can you describe the skeleton's face and the burning cigarette? How does this painting make you feel?
  
• This artwork is quite unusual compared to other famous paintings by Vincent van Gogh. Why do you think the artist chose to create a painting like this? 

• What do you think Vincent van Gogh might have been trying to express or convey through this painting?

We're starting every day with art (history!). You can too by simply adding our calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add."

There was a pumpkin decorating contest at our kid's school today. While we examined this painting on the phone screen, in the car waiting for the gates to open, with pumpkins on the kid's laps, they delighted in finding similarities and differences between their spooky creations and the skeleton by Vincent van Gogh. 

Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️