Signature

The painting "Cottage with sticks" is not signed by the artist.

What does this mean?

Usually a painter signs the paintings he creates.
Vincent didn't do this by definition, especially not the first years that he painted. From the letters it can be concluded that he only signed those works he considered saleable. Before, during and after his Drenthe period he referred to his work as 'studies' not 'paintings'.

As far as knowledge goes, none of Vincent's Drenthe paintings is signed.

The first work he created (and signed) which was a painting in his point of view is 'Potato eaters'. This painting is painted in 1884, just after the Drenthe period.

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