Portrait of Doctor Felix Rey

Van Gogh painted Dr Félix Rey after the young hospital intern — only twenty-three at the time — had sutured the ear Van Gogh had severed on December 23, 1888. Grateful and affectionate toward this doctor who had treated him with unusual kindness during the psychological crisis, Van Gogh produced this portrait in January 1889 as a gift. Rey, embarrassed by its vivid colour and formal oddity, used it to block a hole in his chicken coop, where it was found years later. The portrait is now in the Pushkin Museum and is one of Van Gogh's most psychologically acute characterisations — the dark eyes communicating watchful, intelligent care.

The uniform of dark blue and the warm flesh tones of the face are set against a green and coral-pink wallpaper background of Van Gogh's characteristic decorative patterning. Brushwork is assured and fluid in the face, with more mechanical parallel hatching in the background. The complementary colour scheme of orange-red beard against green is deliberate.