Activities in France
PARIS
‘I have made a series of colour studies in painting simply flowers, red poppies, blue corn
flowers and myosotys. white and rose roses, yellow chrysantemums – seeking oppositions
of blue with orange, red & green, yellow and violet, seeking LES TONS ROMPUS ET
NEUTRES to harmonise brutal extremes.’
Vincent van Gogh to Horace Mann Livens, Paris, September or October 1886
Van Gogh first discovered Impressionism during his time in Paris between 1886 and 1888.
He followed closely the latest artistic developments, including works by Neo-Impressionists
such as Seurat and Signac. His tonal, sombre Dutch palette gave way in Paris to clear,
bright colours which he applied to the canvas with a wide variety of brushstrokes. He
became friends for short periods, and occasionally longer, with artists who are now
considered to be the most progressive and reputable of that period: Henri de ToulouseLautrec, Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin.
Exhibition in Fondation Custodia
The exhibition From Goltzius to Van Gogh. Drawings and paintings from the P. and N. de
Boer Foundation will be held in the Fondation Custodia from 13 December 2014 to 8 March
2015. Piet de Boer (1894-1974), a contemporary of Frits Lugt (1884-1970) amassed an
impressive private collection during his 40 year career as an art dealer. The exhibition
features a large selection from this collection in which the flavour of this ‘marchandcollectionneur’ and his feeling for quality are paramount. A special room will be devoted
to work by Vincent van Gogh: five drawings, among them the iconic Worn Out, represented
by a figure in great despair and a large sheet of a Peasant Digging, created out of
compassion for the lot of the poor farm labourer. There is also Moulin de Blute-fin, a
coloured drawing from Van Gogh’s time in Paris. Among the paintings is the striking
Wheatfield, rendered with splashes of colour in Arles in June 1888. Unlike many other
dealers in old art, Piet de Boer had an affinity with contemporary art and showed great
interest in classical modern artists. He considered Van Gogh to be the most important
among them and succeeded in bringing together this interesting group of his works.
More information: fondationcustodia.fr
New : guided tour in Van Gogh’s footsteps in Montmartre
From September 2014 the Syndicat d’Initiative de Montmartre is offering a new guided tour
following in the footsteps of Van Gogh in the heart of Montmartre. The walk will pass by
Père Tanguy’s shop in a quiet lane in the Saint-Georges district, and his brother Theo’s
first house close to the notorious Le Chat Noir cabaret. From here the route continues
along the ‘small boulevard’ of Clichy and its cabarets where the walker will ‘meet’ Van
Gogh’s new friends: Toulouse-Lautrec, Seurat, Pissarro, Signac. Also included is Cormon’s
studio and Agostina Segatori’s famous Café du Tambourin. From the moment he arrived in
Paris the artist was fascinated by the old windmills in Montmartre, since restored. The
original gardens have disappeared and made way for beautiful Art Deco villas, but a secret
passage takes the visitor back to the pastoral scene of 1886, among the birds, beehives
and gardens bordered by rustic fences. A bit further on is a picturesque farmhouse (a dairy
in Van Gogh’s time) now equipped as an artists’ workplace and the inner garden of Les
Billards wooden inn.
More information: montmartre-guide.com
Musée d’Orsay: the largest Van Gogh collection outside the Netherlands
The Musée d'Orsay is one of the most visited in the world. The museum has its collection of
19th century art to thank for this, in particular its Impressionist masterpieces. Also the
unique character of its setting – a former railway station transformed into a ‘palace for the
fine arts’- plays a part in that success. The museum displays the work of such great artists
as Manet, Gauguin, Monet, Cézanne, Renoir, Gallé and Rodin. They were witness to a
period of great creativity, political change, technical discoveries and social unrest. The
Musée d'Orsay is home to 24 paintings by Vincent van Gogh, the largest collection outside
the Netherlands. The paintings are mainly from his French period and show his artistic
development between Paris and Auvers.
More information: musee-orsay.fr
ARLES
‘Perhaps you’ll be disillusioned with Arles if you come at a time when the mistral’s
blowing, but wait... It’s in the long term that the poetry down here soaks in.’
Vincent van Gogh to Paul Gauguin, 17 October 1888
At the beginning of 1888 Van Gogh moved away from congested Paris. He travelled south
and on 20 February he arrived in Arles, a small town on the edge of the Camargue where
the Rhône splits in two. He stayed there for more than 14 months and during that time he
developed into an artist of the sun, and immortalised the Provence landscape in vivid
colours. Here in the south he rediscovered the reed pen as a drawing instrument which led
to an acclaimed series of pen drawings, often quite impressive in format. The house and
studio he rented in Arles (the Yellow House) became the workplace for like-minded artists.
Paul Gaugin ended up there, with dramatic results. During their intense collaboration Van
Gogh suffered from a nervous disorder and in a fit of insanity he injured himself in the ear.
To commemorate the anniversary year the Fondation Vincent van Gogh in Arles which
opened in 2014 will be staging an exhibition entitled Van Gogh drawings: influences and
innovations.
Title
Van Gogh drawings: influences and innovations
Period
From 17 May to 30 August 2015
The exhibition pays attention to the influence of prints and drawings by other artists on
Van Gogh’s drawings and minor graphic works. In addition to a selection of about 35-40
drawings and prints by Van Gogh, a series of works will be exhibited which inspired him
during his working life. This will include prints from magazines and the 19th century prints
which clearly influenced his early work. It will also include replicas of 17th century prints,
Japanese prints and other works which had an influence on his remarkable reed pen
drawings in Provence. Drawings by contemporary artists will also feature in the exhibition.
More information: fondation-vincentvangogh-arles.org
SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE
‘…with a sun that floods everything with a light of fine gold.’
Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo, 5 and 6 September 1889
On 8 May 1889 Vincent van Gogh committed himself to the hospital of van Saint-Paul de
Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where he was treated until May 1890. In that year he
created numerous drawings and almost 150 paintings, many of which are considered to be
masterpieces. The landscape around Saint-Rémy – with the Alpilles mountain range – has
remained virtually unchanged since Van Gogh was forced to discover it at the end of the
19th century. It became the backdrop for numerous artists who were inspired by the forms
and the unique quality of the light. To commemorate the 125th anniversary of Vincent van
Gogh, the partners of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence will present the special encounters
between artists and the world that inspired them, and which still inspires them to this day.
Title
In the very heart of the landscapes painted by Vincent van Gogh in Saint-Rémy-deProvence
Period
From March to October 2015
List of events
14 March – 7 June 2015
Exhibition in Musée Estrine (Musée de France): All
about nature. A century of painting in the Alpilles with
works by artists who, like Van Gogh, were inspired by
the landscapes of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: Geizes,
Marchand, Prassinos and Bioulès.
April 2015
A series of three lectures organised by the Musée
Estrine: Vincent van Gogh’s landscapes in Saint-Rémy
and in Provence by specialists on the subject of Van
Gogh, the 19th century and art from Provence.
April – September 2015
Readings from Vincent’s letters to his brother Theo
organised by Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in some of the
symbolic locations that would have been familiar to
Van Gogh.
April, September, October 2015
Vincent van Gogh through the eyes of film directors in
Ciné-Palace: films and documentaries dedicated to
Vincent van Gogh.
19 September – 21 October 2015
Exhibition in the Valetudo gallery: Vincent, from roots
to stars and readings from Vincent’s letters to his
brother Theo.
Spring 2015
Launching of the new digital application and route on
location The French Landscapes of Vincent van Gogh.
A collaboration between several communities:
Communauté de communes Vallée des Baux–Alpilles
(CCVBA), community of Auvers-sur-Oise and Vexin
National Park (European programme Leader).
Permanent
Van Gogh Interpretation Centre in the Musée Estrine:
about Vincent van Gogh’s contribution to modern and
contemporary art.
Partners
Coordination: Musée Estrine
Other partners: Saint-Paul de Mausole Monastery, Valetudo Gallery, commune of SaintRémy-de-Provence, Office de Tourisme, Cinéma Ciné-Palace and Communauté de
communes Vallée des Baux–Alpilles (CCVBA)
More information: musee-estrine.fr or saintremy-de-provence.com
AUVERS-SUR-OISE
‘For really, Auvers gravely beautiful, it’s the heart of the countryside, distinctive and
picturesque.’
Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo, 20 May 1890
Auvers-sur-Oise, just a stone’s throw from Paris, is a favourite destination for lovers of
impressionist art. The village owes its fame mainly to Vincent van Gogh. The artist
produced almost 80 works here in fewer than 70 days. Some of these painting are among
his most famous, such as Wheatfield with Crows, Portrait of Dr.Gachet and The Church at
Auvers. Each year Auvers attracts visitors from all around the world on a ‘pilgrimage’ in
the footsteps of Van Gogh. This ‘outdoor museum’ has many historical monuments
including the church and castle at Auvers which Van Gogh painted, Daubigny’s studio, Dr.
Gachet’s house and the Auberge Ravoux where you can visit Van Gogh’s bedroom. This
remembrance and meeting place (‘lieu de mémoire - lieu de vie’) was designated a
historical monument in 1995 and is the only place where Van Gogh lived which has
remained to a large extent in its original condition.
Title
In the footsteps of Van Gogh
Description
The 2015 cultural season in Auvers-sur-Oise will have Vincent van Gogh as its theme. It will
take the form of an initiative by the community of Auvers-sur-Oise, in collaboration with
the Institut Van Gogh and supported by the Paris Ile-de-France Regional Tourist Board. The
cultural partners in this artists’ village 30 kilometres northwest of Paris will join forces
under the title In the footsteps of Van Gogh. They will offer a rich and varied programme
to the approximately 220,000 visitors - often real ‘pilgrims’- who visit the village each
year. The first edition took place in 2014; the cultural season will also be repeated in 2016
Period
From 4 April to 30 August 2015
List of events
- ‘The Van Gogh Experience’ in Auvers-sur-Oise Castle: videos, installations, art in the
space where the artist Nowart was inspired by the last 70 days of the life of the artist in
Auvers-sur-Oise;
- exhibition in Musée Daubigny about the influence of film on art by using the concept of
‘framing’;
- open air screening (free entry) of the film Lust for Life by Vincente Minnelli and the
making of it;
- new digital application Vincent van Gogh’s French Landscapes with which visitors can
tread in Vincent van Gogh’s footsteps (see above, under Saint-Rémy-de-Provence:
collaboration between several communities).
In the footsteps of Van Gogh Partners
Cultural partners: Château d’Auvers, Maison du Dr Gachet, Musée Daubigny, Office du
Tourisme, Galerie d’Art Contemporain, Eglise Notre Dame d’Auvers and the graveyard
where Vincent and Theo van Gogh are buried, Musée de l’Absinthe, Maison-Atelier de
Daubigny, Auberge Ravoux, also known as “Maison de Van Gogh”, and the Festival d’Auvers
More information: surlespasdevangogh.eu of visitparisregion.com