The Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam, Netherlands

March 13, 2018

Recently I took a fairly spontaneous trip to Amsterdam and I ended up at The Van Gogh Museum. This was definitely one of the best art museums I have ever been through. Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionism era. He is quite possibly the most influential painter of all time and a very interesting man. The museum takes you on a trip through the history of his life through his work.

The Van Gogh Museum Website

Located : Museumplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Life of an Artist

Most of what we know comes from the letters that he wrote to his younger brother Theo. Vincent lived a life of poverty and was financially supported by Theo. He suffered from severe mental breakdowns and was essentially a madman at times. But in the short period that Vincent was painting, he feverishly busted out over 2,000 pieces of artwork including over 800 oil paintings. He admired the life of peasants and how they worked to live off the land. He often painted peasants as if they have become one with the earth. At 37 years old, Vincent van Gogh was shot in the abdomen and it was deemed a suicide. He was never admired during his lifetime and it was only until he died that his paintings were seen as brilliant.

Letters in a Drawer

Theo van Gogh died shortly after Vincent. The cabinet above is where most of their letters of correspondence were found. These letters would paint the life of Vincent as we know it today. The cabinet itself is an amazing piece of woodwork.

The Pallet

Above is a picture of Vincent van Gogh's painting pallet. As you can see, the colors are all mixed up and smudged together. Vincent was obsessed with mixing colors. Overtime his paintings grew in color and brightness and he created a new style of painting with his big strokes. He painted colorful landscapes and nature scenes of orchards and flowers as well as many portraits and self-portraits.

The King of Selfies

The museum had an entire section dedicated to the many self-portraits that Vincent van Gogh painted. He was portrayed a bit different in all of them. 'Self-Portrait in Grey Felt Hat' seen below was one of my favorites. The way he used strokes of color to create expression is brilliant. Pictures do not do these paintings justice. I highly advise taking a trip to the museum, because when you see the paintings in person there is a third-dimensional sense to it all.

Japanese Influence

Towards the end of Van Gogh's life, he began showing interest in the Japanese artistic style. He coined the term 'Japonaiserie' to describe artwork of the Japanese influence. Although there is a myth that 'Wheatfield with Crows' was Van Gogh's final piece, the painting below called 'Tree Roots' is more likely to be Vincent's last ever painting. It definitely has a Japonaiserie touch to it. Many believe it was unfinished.

Wheatfield with Crows

'Wheatfield with Crows' shows a dramatic scene with crows shooting out from the field as a storm rolls through. Due to the tragic death of Van Gogh, some people claimed this was Van Gogh's last painting, but in reality 'Tree Roots' is a much more likely candidate. Regardless, the 'Wheatfield with Crows' piece will forever be one of the Vincent's most famous paintings.

Other Artists

The museum features work from many artists from Van Gogh's era. There are paintings by colleagues like Émile Bernard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, the famous Claude Monet and many more. There are also a couple sculptures from Auguste Rodin and Jules Dalou.

Apollo Slays Python

Apollo Slays Python is a famous painting that decorates the ceiling of the Galerie d'Apollon in the Louvre of Paris, France. It was created by Eugène Delacroix from 1850 to 1851. The painting below is featured in the Van Gogh Museum. It is a mock-up sketch that Delacroix used as the design for his painting on the ceiling of the Louvre.

Visit The Van Gogh Museum

Overall, The Van Gogh Museum was an epic experience. I highly recommend visiting if you ever find yourself in Amsterdam. It gives a great glimpse into the life of Vincent Van Gogh and features the most pieces of Van Gogh's work on the planet. I definitely walked out of the museum with a bit of artistic inspiration.

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