February 2010
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Vincent Van Gogh, Self-portrait as an Artist, January 1888, Oil on canvas 65.2 x 50.2 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
It’s easy to think we already know everything there is to know about Vincent Van Gogh: the madness, the lack of an ear, 'The Sunflowers'. But the real story is, of course, far more complicated.
The Royal Academy’s latest show, The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters, is the biggest retrospective of the artist’s work in London for 40 years.
Structured around the artist’s correspondence — primarily with his brother Theo, but also with his sister Wilhelmina and other artists, including Gauguin — the exhibition charts Van Gogh’s development from a young missionary to accomplished artist.
Such is the popularity of Van Gogh, that it is easy to feel like you’ve seen it all before, but this exhibition presents his talents in a rather different light — and there’s plenty to enjoy.
I particularly liked the croquis, little pen and ink preparatory sketches that show the artist planning his paintings. The spontaneity of these drawings gives an impression of Van Gogh’s mind at work, like a snapshot of his thoughts- and the mark making is exceptional.
Van Gogh fans will be delighted to see some of his most famous works: 'Self-portrait as an artist', 'The Yellow House', and 'Still-life; with a plate of onions', and skeptics should prepare to leave converted- it’s a cracking exhibition.
The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters is at the Royal Academy of Arts, London W1 (+ 44 (0) 844 2091919; royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/vangogh/), until April 18 2010.
