Was Van Gogh Colour Blind?

Everyone knows Vincent Van Gogh. I’m sure you’ve seen Starry Night or his self portrait or the sunflowers. But did you know some artists have theorized that he may have been colour blind? I stumbled across this theory in a YouTube video about paint mixing and it really surprised me.

What Is Colour Blindness?

People who are colour blind see colours differently from other people. It makes it harder to see the difference between colours. It usually runs in families and there’s no cure. The picture below shows what some common forms of colour blindness look like.

The possibility that Van Gogh may have been colour blind shocked me when I first heard it. The more I think about it, the crazier it seems. To think one of the most famous artists of all time may have been colour blind makes his work even more impressive.

Where Did This Theory Come From?

But what makes people think this? Well, it starts with a man named Kazunori Asada. Asada is a Japanese expert on colour science. He found himself using a “colour vision experience room”, a tool that simulates colour blindness. The expert decided to view some of Van Gogh’s paintings in this room and was shocked by what he found. Some of the pieces, most notably Starry Night, were completely transformed.

Van Gogh’s critics have pointed out some strange colouring choices and unnecessarily harsh outlines in his work. But when viewed with a colour blindness simulator, these features disappeared. Asada thought they looked much less rough and more blended.

See for yourself! Below are some comparisons of Van Gogh’s original work and Asada’s altered versions. I think the difference is most striking in the skin tones on his self portrait. The original has some almost greenish undertones, while the altered version has a more brown tone.

Who Cares?

But why does this matter at all? Who cares if Vincent Van Gogh may have seen colours differently from the rest of us?

Well, Van Gogh is arguably the most renowned artist in history. Personally, I think his use of colour sets his work apart from the rest. Whether you’re an artist or not, it’s clear he makes some interesting choices when it comes to hues and undertones. And the reason behind this is so simple, yet so shocking. Colour is such an important part of art. So important, in fact, that the thought of being colour blind as an artist seems almost impossible. And yet, the famous, world renowned Van Gogh could have had this problem too!

We’ll never really know if Van Gogh was actually colour blind. Maybe it’s just a coincidence. But the proof is definitely convincing. Take a closer look and decide for yourself!

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this article. Remember, I release new ones every week. Before you go, don't forget to check out my shop!