Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait as Lazarus: Longing for Life
What gives us true life, even in our darkest moments?
The Raising of Lazarus was painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1890. In the scene, Mary stands with her arms wide open, full of shock and hope. Martha, on the other hand, is more restrained, quietly observing the moment. But there’s a surprising detail—Van Gogh painted himself as Lazarus. Look closely, and you’ll see the red whiskers on Lazarus match Van Gogh’s own. He placed himself rising from the tomb.
Why?
Van Gogh’s life was marked by deep inner struggle. He wrestled with feelings of failure and insignificance. Despite his talent, he sold only one painting during his lifetime. He once hoped that his art would one day be worth more than the paint tubes he used to create it. But as his depression grew unbearable, he eventually walked into a wheat field and took his own life at the age of 37.
When I look at this painting, I see a man longing to be raised—to escape the living death of despair.
But something important is missing from Van Gogh’s Raising of Lazarus. Can you guess what?
Jesus.
Van Gogh painted Lazarus rising, but he left out the one who raised him. This absence is both tragic and revealing. Van Gogh once said, “I can very well do without God—both in my life and in my painting.”
His work was inspired by Rembrandt’s earlier Raising of Lazarus. In Rembrandt’s version, Mary’s pose is nearly identical—but Jesus is front and center, the heart of the scene. Van Gogh cropped Jesus out.
The Bible tells us:
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life.” — 1 John 5:12
Here’s the message for anyone walking through dark times:
Whoever has Jesus has everything. Whoever doesn’t have Jesus has nothing.
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh |
| Title | The Raising of Lazarus (after Rembrandt) |
| Production | 1890 |
| Material | Oil on Canvas |
| Dimensions | 49.5 cm (Width), 35.5 cm (Height) |
| Exhibit Location | Van Gogh Museum |
| Accession Number | s0169V1962 |
| Credit Line | |
| Image Credit | Wikimedia Commons |
Written by Dr. Neale Schofield
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Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait as Lazarus: Longing for Life