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„Van Gogh: The Story of a Painting” at the Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński in Warsaw is an exhibition of the only canvas by the famous Dutch painter in Polish collections. The work underwent specialized examinations confirming its authenticity and technological compatibility with van Gogh’s earliest works. It has also been subjected to conservation.
„The painting depicts an incredibly realistic landscape of a Dutch village, suggesting that the artist had been observing such views since childhood. The exhibition will tell a certain segment of Van Gogh’s history, the journey he took to become one of the world’s most famous artists,” reads the exhibition description on the museum’s website.
Early Creative Period The painting underwent examinations at the National Museum in Krakow, in cooperation with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. „We hope that this painting will initiate a new narrative about the Collection in honor of John Paul II, known to you as the Porczyński Gallery. This is a new beginning, from now on we talk about the collection in a scientific way, leaving the emotional approach aside,” said exhibition curator Anna Biskupska during a press conference at the museum’s headquarters in the ring surrounding the Temple of Divine Providence.
She added that thanks to the research, the object was dated to early September 1883. „It is a painting from the early period, the very beginning of Vincent van Gogh’s creativity. It is characteristic of that time, different from the paintings usually associated with this creativity. The provenance of the object itself is well documented. The history of the painting from its creation to its presentation at our exhibition will also be its subject,” she announced.
The exhibition is divided into two parts: in the first, viewers will see Van Gogh’s work, while in the second, they will learn about the historical context of the work: the behind-the-scenes of the research on the painting’s conservation, the secrets of the artist’s painting work. Before it arrived at the Warsaw museum, the painting – found 13 years after Van Gogh’s death – was stored for years in an attic, passed to an antiques dealer, then belonged to a tailor.
Comparison with Other Works The painting entered the Porczyński collection in 1987 and has been treated for years as authentic. „The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam had no doubts about the authenticity of the canvas. Due to the reputation of the collection, it is possible that no one took it seriously, did not believe that such a modest, unassuming landscape could be the work of an artist like Van Gogh. Thanks to the research results we received, we can confidently state that it is indeed the work of this artist and we can exhibit it as it deserves,” said Agata Smolnicka, curator and conservator of the collection.
„The provenance of the work has been known since the beginning of the century. It was listed in the artist’s catalog in 1928. Its authenticity has never been questioned. Today, we have a full range of conducted research and can now speak loudly about this painting, even though it was not signed. We know it is Van Gogh based on comparison with his other works from that period,” she explained.
The exhibition will be on display until December 8th.
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