Vincent Van Gogh is arguably the most famous artist of the nineteenth century. His works are worth millions of dollars and are beloved around the world; yet unless one is in New York City or Europe, one is unlikely to get a glimpse of Van Gogh’s works in person.
That’s why the exhibit Becoming Van Gogh at the Denver Art Museum was such a big deal. Although the DAM is well-known for its American Indian and Western American Art collections, never before has it hosted an exhibition of works by an artist of Van Gogh’s international reputation. Becoming Van Gogh was a great opportunity for people who might not otherwise
get the chance to see his work face-to-face.
The exhibition focused on Van Gogh’s early work. Although there were several pieces by other artists like Camille Pissarro and Henri Toulous-Lautrec to provide context, most of the eighty-plus works were paintings and sketches by Van Gogh himself. From landscapes of Paris and the country, still lifes of flowers, and portraits, one could get a sense of how Van Gogh’s painting style developed over his early career. None of his more famous works were in attendance–there was no Starry Night–but there was a good representation of his work as a whole, including a few pieces of astonishing beauty. “Blossoming Almond Branch in a Glass with a Book,” for instance, was a small piece that almost seemed to glow from across the gallery, and was even more lovely close-up. “Willows at Sunset” was another small work that had the intensity and passion of Van Gogh’s best landscapes.
The exhibit closed with a series of self-portraits. Although the audioguide and signage avoided any mention of Arles and Van Gogh’s death–suicide or murder?–the series of Van Gogh’s gaunt face seemed to say everything about his inner pain and fate all on their own. It was an emotionally powerful conclusion to the show, the effect of which was a bit ruined by immediately entering a gift shop stuffed with the crass commercialization of Van Gogh’s work. One can’t help but wonder if Van Gogh would have approved. Nevertheless, Becoming Van Gogh as a whole was an impressive exhibit and a reminder of exactly why Van Gogh is one of the world’s most beloved artists.
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.denverartmuseum.org
