New Van Gogh show in Paris focuses on artist’s extraordinarily productive and tragic final months

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The latest exhibition at the Orsay Museum in Paris delves into the extraordinary and poignant final two months of Vincent van Gogh’s life, leading up to his tragic demise on July 29, 1890. This period was marked by a paradoxical blend of prolific creativity and impending tragedy. Van Gogh, who had voluntarily entered a psychiatric hospital following the notorious incident of cutting off his left ear, found refuge in the idyllic French village of Auvers-sur-Oise, situated north of Paris, renowned for its picturesque landscapes that had also inspired other illustrious artists such as Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro. Here, he received care from Dr. Paul Gachet, a specialist in treating depression.

Following Dr. Gachet’s guidance, Van Gogh channeled his energy into his artwork as a means to combat the shadows of mental illness. Remarkably, he produced a staggering 74 paintings, among which were some of his most iconic masterpieces, along with numerous drawings, all in the span of 72 days.

Upon arriving in Auvers on May 20, Van Gogh wasted no time and immediately set to work. In his first week alone, he completed at least seven paintings featuring houses, blossoming chestnut trees, and Dr. Gachet’s garden. Speed and urgency were essential for him, a way to capture fleeting emotions and visions. He would rise early, around 5 a.m., enjoy his coffee, and venture out with his easel, canvas, and brushes, setting up in front of his chosen subject. Mornings were dedicated to painting en plein air, while afternoons were spent in his studio, maintaining an intense pace of up to 12 hours a day.

The exhibition, titled “Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: The Final Months,” at the Musée d’Orsay, home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art, showcases approximately 40 of Van Gogh’s paintings and 20 drawings from this poignant period. Securing these precious works for display required four years of diligent research and negotiations, as other museums and collections generously lent their pieces in exchange for some from the Orsay’s own collection.

One of the remarkable features of the exhibition is the inclusion of 11 paintings by Van Gogh on elongated canvases, a bold experiment that adds a dramatic, widescreen panorama to his works. This marks the first time all 11 of these paintings have been displayed together. Among them, “Wheatfield with Crows” stands out, on loan from Amsterdam, with its foreboding presence of black birds that seem to take flight with an almost audible caw-caw.

Another poignant piece, “Tree Roots,” believed to be Van Gogh’s final work, is particularly unsettling as it is thought to have been painted on July 27, 1890, just before his tragic suicide. In its tangle of tree roots, vibrant blues competing with the greens of the undergrowth and the browns of the earth, viewers are drawn into a world of confusion, anguish, and pain. In 2020, a Dutch researcher even pinpointed the precise location where Van Gogh created this work, shedding new light on the artist’s tormented final moments.

The exhibition compels us to ponder what other artistic wonders Van Gogh might have bestowed upon the world had he lived longer, much like the hypothetical musical compositions of Jimi Hendrix or the unwritten poetry of Sylvia Plath. However, it also gifts us with the opportunity to experience the world through Van Gogh’s eyes, where colors and scenes pulsate with life, an everlasting testament to his genius. For viewers, this exhibition is a breathtaking fusion of regret and admiration, a dazzling showcase of artistic brilliance.

“Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: The Final Months” is on display at the Musée d’Orsay until February 4, 2024.

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More about Van Gogh Exhibition

• Musée d’Orsay Official Website
• Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise Exhibition Details
• Vincent van Gogh Biography
• Paris Tourism Information
• Recent Research on Van Gogh’s Final Moments