View of Royal Road, Ramsgate

Vincent van Gogh drew this view of Ramsgate in 1876, during his time as a teacher at a boys' school in the English coastal town. The sketch shows the Royal Road with its terraced houses, capturing the modest setting where the young Vincent first tried teaching. His careful linework documents a formative period before he committed to becoming an artist.

The drawing reveals Van Gogh's observational skills even at this early date, when he was still searching for his calling. He would work as a teacher, bookseller, and lay preacher before finally turning to art in 1880. Now at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, this sketch provides valuable insight into the artist's pre-painting years.