Touring Europe with Van Gogh

While our love for travel has been curbed by the measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, we have plenty of time to dream of our next holiday, whenever that may be. Today, we are taking you on a tour of Europe, following in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh.

ENGLAND
Churches at Petersham and Turnham Green (1873)
Vincent Van Gogh began working for The Hague’s branch of art dealers, Goupil & Cie on July 30, 1869 as a junior apprentice. In May 1873, pleased with his work, Goupil & Cie transferred Van Gogh to their branch in London. During this time Van Gogh gave a sermon at a Methodist Church in Petersham, a village on Thames River. He described it as memorable Sunday in a letter to his brother, Theo, including a sketch of the church with the letter.

THE NETHERLANDS
Bulb Fields (1883)
When visiting the land of windmills, you cannot miss picturesque fields of flowers. Created in his second year in The Hague, Bulb Fields is Van Gogh’s first garden painting in oil. It shows how Van Gogh painted panoramic views in his early years. It captures the beautiful fields of blossoming tulips, the flowerbeds in perfect symmetry – a signature of his Dutch homeland.

Drawbridge in Nieuw-Amsterdam (1883)
It is known that Van Gogh loved to paint the view from his window. This painting is one of his 148 watercolour paintings. Watercolour pleased him as it could express atmosphere and distance perfectly. He went on to paint Langlois Bridge at Arles, a similar subject but this time painting in oil on canvas, which sharpens the lines and angles in a perspective. Langlois Bridge in Arles is now known as ‘Van Gogh’s Bridge’.

FRANCE
Le Moulin de la Galette (1886)
Van Gogh and his brother Theo were living in Paris in an apartment in the neighbourhood of Montmartre where the famous Moulin de la Galette, outdoor dance hall was located. It proved to be a remarkable location for Van Gogh. Here he met many famous artists including Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac, and Paul Gauguin, who also painted this vibrant part of the French capital.

Starry Night over the Rhône (1888)

Starry Night, painted in Saint-Remy de Provence in 1889. Prior to painting this Van Gogh painted Starry Night Over the Rhône, a stunning evening view of the Rhône River in Arles, a city in southern France. The scene for this painting was just a few minutes walk from Van Gogh’s studio, Yellow House. 

If you are planning to visit France, you can see the original Starry Night Over the Rhône at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Other works at the museum includes: Portrait of the Artist (1887), Self Portrait (1889), Van Gogh’s Room in Arles (1888), Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890) and The Church in Auvers-Sur-Oise (1890).

The multimedia exhibition, Vincent Van Gogh: Life and Art will open at the Museum of Digital Art Bangkok (MODA) on Thursday 4 June.