Support / Dimensions

After making the X-rays I removed the painting from its frame, to find out more regarding the support and panel.
Untill then all that was known is what can be seen on this photo of the back of the painting.

The support appeared to be canvas (linen) glued directly onto the panel, the secondary support.

Support
The paint on the support (the canvas) extends up to the outer edges. A self-side is not visible so it may be assumed that the edges of the canvas are cut.
The canvas is some millimeters smaller than the panel.
As the painted edges fell a few millimeters inside the inner edges of the frame the paint is damaged there. This paint on the outer edges is brighter of colour, probably because less dirt and light could reach it.

To qualify the canvas I cut a small corner of the already damaged outer edge. The paint appeared to be of enormous hardness. Even with a surgeons knife it could hardly be cut. Next I removed the layers of paint from this small specimen so the canvas became visible.
As the specimen is very small it is hard to qualify the type exactly. The count (density) comes close to approx. 15x15 threads per cm.
The type of weave is the simplest possible (I don't know the english name for it), the warp and weft threads cross one by one.
I can't see it very good but it appears that a ground is applied to the canvas. Its color being greyish white.

Secondary support
The material of the panel, the secondary support, seems to be cardboard. The color is brown and its thickness is approx. 5 mm. The structure is fibrous.
For the rest nothing specific can be found.

To examine whether in the above a reason could be found that the painting cannot be the "first study", I investigated the type of supports Van Gogh used during his Drenthe-period (and around this period).

In broad terms it appears that Vincent, before leaving for Drenthe, mainly painted on paper. This, because of the high prices of (pre-ground) canvas.
With his leave for Drenthe the time had come for a more professional approach, painting on canvas was part of it.
Those days ready-made supports could be bought in standard sizes, consisting of grounded canvas on panel, but Vincent didn't use those because of their cost. He bought canvas per meter and cut it himself to the desired dimensions.

From the six known Drenthe paintings three are analyzed thoroughly by the Van Gogh Museum. Those three Drenthe paintings all have the same type of canvas as support, cloth 20x17.
The secondary support of one is cardboard, the second (possibly) cardboard and the third a stretcher.
As the type of canvas 20x17 isn't the same as the type of "Cottage with sticks" - approx. 15x15 - I finally thought to have found a reason why "Cottage with sticks" couldn't be by Van Gogh.
This conclusion was premature though.

When Vincent left for Drenthe he had very few materials with him. Only after receiving money from Theo he could order new materials which had to come from the city of The Hague. Those new materials arrived shortly before he moved to the eastside of Drenthe. The three aforementioned works on canvas 20x17 are all painted after he received the new materials. Therefore the works made before leaving for the eastside are made with materials he already carried with him. According the tendency for a "more professional approach" it can be expected that the first studies in Drenthe have canvas as support but this is not a fact for certain.
That the (contingent) type of canvas of the first studies in Drenthe don't fit the later used canvas is possible. Unfortunately all the Drenthe paintings, made before leaving for the eastside, are lost so comparision isn't possible.

The 6 paintings (excluding the at least 7 "lost" paintings) Vincent painted in Drenthe have the following carrier:

- "Cottages" : ............................canvas on cardboard(?)
- "Two women in the moor" : ...canvas on stretcher
- "Landscape at twilight" : .......cardboard on panel
- "Peatboat with two figures" : canvas on panel
- "Peasant burning weeds" : ...canvas on panel
- "Farm with stacks of peat" : .canvas on cardboard

Of the above mentioned paintings only those printed in bold are correct with certainty. Concerning the others, "panel" might be "cardboard" for instance, and vice versa.

Summarizing it can be said that the support and secondary support of "Cottage with sticks" don't exclude the painting being the "first study". The materials used fit those which, based on the current and limited knowledge, can be expected from Van Gogh's Drenthe paintings.

Dimensions
The dimensions of the panel are 34.5 x 26.5 cm. To see whether these dimensions could provide another clue I've analysed the dimensions of the known paintings from Drenthe. Also included are the dimensions of paintings from just before, and just after, the Drenthe period.
The result is depicted in the graph.

What draws the attention from the graph is the uniformity in dimensions of the known Drenthe paintings.
It can be clearly seen that the paintings from the periods before and after Drenthe show a wide variety in dimensions.

Why the Drenthe paintings are of similar size (appr. 55 x 35 cm or 35 x 28 cm), isn't known to me. It is clear though that the second dimension is obtained by dividing the first in two. A certain standardisation is recognisable.
Possibly Van Gogh owned canvas with a width of 55 cm or his field easel was of those dimensions.
The option that Van Gogh used his painters box (see illustration) in Drenthe isn't probable as shortly before leaving for Drenthe he bought himself a field easel.

When including the dimensions of "Cottage with sticks" in the graph (the red dots), it is clear that the dimensions of the painting "Cottage with sticks" fit in perfectly with the other Drenthe paintings.

Another clue about the secondary support of 'the first study' might be found in the following:
Here a quotation from the book "Vincent van Gogh Schilderijen" of the Van Gogh Museum.

"From Nuenen he sent on Februari 13th 1884
'3 panels', which also must originate from Drenthe, conform his later statement that he was not eager to send Theo 'the studies from here [that is Nuenen]'.
Which paintings these were is not known. None of the saved paintings is on panel."

Now the question rises; "What is meant by 'panel'?"
Is it possible that Vincent called a secondary support of cardboard a panel and the Van Gogh Museum not?

Cottage with sticks & Vincent van Gogh - by Carl & Ans 2003-2005.

Great care has to be taken with the names "cardboard", "board" and "panel". It isn't always sure what is meant. One might call a "panel" something which another refers to as "cardboard" or "board".

The supports as mentioned in the oeuvre-catalogs don't always represent reality. Also a new secondary support is applied to many works in a later stadium. The only data which seem trustworthy are from the Van Gogh Museum.
Concerning the Drenthe paintings only three (out of six) are thoroughly investigated.

Oeuvrecatalogi state "Peasant burning weeds", as "on panel".
According the Van Gogh Museum this is a misunderstanding and is the work "Canvas on panel".

Graph full-size

"Selfportrait in a landscape" (detail)
painted by
H. v.d. Sande Bakhuyzen
Entire painting