The "Van Gogh" exhibition, featuring Vincent van Gogh, a painter whose intense colors continue to fascinate people, will be held at the Ueno Royal Museum from October 11 to January 13, 2020, and at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art from January 25 to March 29, 2020.


Vincent van Gogh, a painter beloved worldwide for his rich expressiveness and vivid colors, spent only 10 years of his short 37-year life as a painter. Despite his brief career, two major encounters enabled him to achieve a unique style of expression.

The "Hague School" guided Van Gogh, who decided to pursue a career as a painter at the age of 27. Although they have rarely been the focus of attention until now, Van Gogh learned the basics of painting from these artists, who depicted rural life with tranquil brushstrokes. He then moved to Paris, encountered the Impressionists, and became captivated by their vibrant colors.

In addition to approximately 40 of Van Gogh's works, the "Van Gogh Exhibition" will also feature approximately 30 works by leading Hague School and Impressionist masters such as Mauve, Cézanne, and Monet, as well as quotes from Van Gogh's letters, delving into the process by which he arrived at his unique style. Vincent van Gogh, Wheat Field, June 1888, Oil on canvas, 50x61cm, P. & N. de Boer Foundation
© P. & N. de Boer Foundation

This time, the exhibition will feature Cypresses, which will be visiting Japan for the first time in seven years, as well as other works that feature motifs that were important to Van Gogh in his later years, such as Wheat Field and Olive Pickers. Also on display will be his masterpiece, Roses, which is considered "one of the most beautiful" of the many still lifes he created.

Vincent van Gogh, Roofs of Paris, Spring 1886, Oil on canvas, 45.6 x 38.5 cm, National Gallery of Ireland
© National Gallery of Ireland

Another highlight is the gathering of precious works from around the world. Previous Van Gogh exhibitions held in Japan have often focused on works from his native Netherlands. This time, under the supervision of the director of The Hague Museum of Art in the Netherlands, which holds an important collection of Van Gogh and the Hague School, works have been loaned from 25 collections in 10 countries and regions, including Israel, Switzerland, and the Principality of Monaco. You will be able to see valuable works that have rarely been shown in Japan until now, such as "Roofs of Paris," which will be shown in Japan for the first time as far as records can confirm. :
© Reprod. G. Moufflet/Archives du Palais de Monaco
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In addition, from October 1st to November 13th, Afternoon Tea TEAROOM will be offering a special collaboration menu with this exhibition, the “Autumn Limited Special Set” (1,914 yen including tax), at approximately 80 stores nationwide. This set includes four different sweets paired with your choice of tea, just like the colorful paintings of Van Gogh. In addition, there are many other events to enjoy in conjunction with this exhibition, such as the film "Van Gogh and Helene's Forest" which will be released on October 25th and "At Eternity's Gate" which will be released on November 8th.