Earlier last month I had the privilege to preview the Van Gogh exhibit here in Houston Texas before it was open to the public and since then, I’ve been back 3 times.
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston will be showcasing more than 50 of Van Gogh’s rarely loaned masterworks from now till June 27th. His Life in Art follows Van Gogh through four key stages of his career, from early sketches to final paintings. And coming from someone who doesn’t know much about art, this exhibit is truly fascinating. To be able to see so much artwork from someone like Van Gogh, one of the most iconic artists in the history of Western art is something not many people can say they’ve seen in person.. unless you’ve been to his homeland, The Netherlands where they display the majority of his work.
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in March 1853 and took up painting in 1881 after being an art dealer as a young man and suffering from depression. His younger brother Theo supported him financially, and the two kept in touch by writing letters to one another (which you can see & read at this exhibit). After moving to Paris and the South of France, his work developed & he took a new approach to still lifes and local landscapes. His paintings started to become brighter with color and he included sunflowers, olive treats & wheat fields. In just over a decade he created 2,100 artworks including 860 oil paintings which most took place in the last two years of his life. Unfortunately, he was not commercially successful during his time here and his suicide took place at age 37 after years of mental illness and poverty. After passing, he left everything behind to his brother Theo because he didn’t have any kids.
I can’t help but to think what if his life would have been different if he was commercially successful during his time alive. It’s sad that he didn’t get to see how much the world would have appreciated his talent. But, his name and paintings will live forever. I encourage you to visit the MFAH and walk through the stages of his life through his art and admire his portraits, landscapes, and still lifes drawn primarily from the collections of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, the Netherlands. This stuff is rarely seen outside of the European art world and you will leave learning just how his authenticity and sincerity is what made him so popular still now and forever more. Don’t forget to also check out their interactive room where you can sit and take photos in what his bedroom looked like back in 1888. It’s fun for people of all ages, including kids!
Agostina Segatori, the Italian owner of the restaurant Le Tambourin cafe. She was painted to be Van Gogh’s lover.
One of his last works where he was only able to draw the sketch but wasn’t able to finish it.
Have you had a chance to check out this magnificent exhibit? If so, did you love it? If you haven’t, go soon! Just a few more months before it’s gone!
Xx, Es <3
