Van Gogh’s skull painting is a unique piece for this artist, as it uses minimal color to illustrate his vision. While most people who are familiar with expect to see vibrant blues and yellows that bring landscapes, people, and flowers to life, this painting is a subdued depiction of the skull of a skeleton with a burning cigarette.

The story behind Van Gogh’s Skeleton Smoking is a lighthearted one. While in art school, the artist had to show his grasp of basic anatomy and chose to add a cigarette in the skeleton’s mouth as a juvenile prank.