PORTRAIT OF DR.GACHET BY VINCENT VAN GOGH (ANTIQUE)
2oz Fine Silver Coin – Republique du Tchad 2021 – 10,000 Francs CFA
 
One of the most renowned and respected artists in the world, Vincent van Gogh was a post-Impressionist painter who is heavily credited for laying the foundation and inspiration for much of 20th-century art. In his lifetime, he had completed more than 2,100 works, consisting of oil paintings, watercolor drawings, and sketches. Some of his most prominent works include “Starry Night”, “Sunflowers” and “The Potato Eaters”. Despite struggling with mental illness and health issues throughout his life, he pursued art and painting with passion and spirit, choosing to devote much of his money and time to art than anything else. Appreciation of his art grew exponentially after his suicide, and he gained posthumous fame and admiration to be considered one of the greatest artists in history.
 
The portrait of Vincent van Gogh’s homeographic doctor Dr. Gachet is one of the most valuable and revered art that the artist has ever done. Completed only 6 weeks before his death, it was closely intertwined with that stage of his life where he struggled with mental health issues. Vincent had stayed with Dr. Gachet upon his release from the asylum, and it was then that this art piece was completed. The painting was one of his prided works, and he had spoken of it favorably in multiple letters to his family. 
 
In this collectible, the engravings and textures of Dr. Gachet’s profile are designed to closely reflect the signature brushstroke techniques that Vincent employed in his painting. Delivered in high relief, a 3D and life-like image of Dr. Gachet is presented vividly. Every detail matches the actual painting, down to the profound expression on the doctor’s face that Vincent had described as “sensitive” and “melancholy”. His droopy eyes accentuated his tiredness and seemed almost reflective of van Gogh’s own melancholy. On the obverse, one of Vincent’s final letters to his brother, Theo, is engraved with a small etching of the Portrait of Dr. Gachet in the corner. 
 
On a canvas of 110 x 145mm, a new minting technique called “Bi-Metal Max” was applied to give this piece its remarkable weight while keeping its proportions true to the actual painting. This is made possible by combining 33.5 oz of copper as a base with a top layer of 2 oz of 999 fine silver, resulting in a super ultra-high relief topped with silver antiqued finishing.