Sketch of a Donkey 1890

This is Vincent van Gogh's "Sketch of a Donkey," held at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The sketch presents a sparse yet evocative depiction of a donkey standing in a field. Notice how Van Gogh employs a flurry of lines to construct form and volume, foregoing any pretense of smooth naturalism. The donkey itself appears almost as a series of loosely connected vectors, each line contributing to an unstable equilibrium. The rapid, agitated marks do not just represent the donkey; they also embody a certain frenetic energy, typical of the artist's unique sensibility. These visual choices invite us to see beyond the mere representation of an animal. The sketch challenges fixed notions of representation and captures a sense of movement and impermanence, typical of Van Gogh's expressionist style. The sketch serves not just as a study of form but as an expression of something fleeting and visceral.