There are many sites and attractions to see in Amsterdam, and although most people will immediately think of the city's Red Light District, there is in fact a great deal of history packed into the Dutch capital. The Van Gogh Museum itself is a major tourist attraction in Amsterdam's Museumplein where millions of people visit every year.
Van Gogh Museum is home to the largest single collection of the works of this Dutch artist. The Museum building itself, praises the well renowned Dutch architecture. The design allows the vast inlet of natural light and we can watch the paintings in natural light which is very phenomenal.
Let’s first meet this great artist and his incredible contributions in art history.
Vincent van Gogh (March 30, 1853 - July 29, 1890) is generally considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt, though he had little success during his lifetime. Van Gogh produced all of his work (some 900 paintings and 1100 drawings) during a period of only 10 years before he succumbed to mental illness and committed suicide. His fame grew rapidly after his death especially following a showing of 71 of van Gogh's paintings in Paris on March 17, 1901 (11 years after his death).
Van Gogh's influence on expressionism was enormous, and can be seen in many other aspects of 20th-century art. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is dedicated to Van Gogh's work and that of his contemporaries.Several paintings by Van Gogh rank among the most expensive paintings in the world. On March 30, 1987 Van Gogh's painting Irises was sold for a record $53.9 million at Southeby's, New York. On May 15, 1990 his Portrait of Doctor Gachet was sold for $82.5 million at Christie's, thus establishing a new price record.
There are some two hundred paintings in the collection, as well as seven hundred letters, five hundred drawings. With so many paintings on show it is impossible here to comment on all but I found the three artistic piece of work, which itself says the three important phases in Van Gogh's life.
The first period of work goes ranges from 1880 through until 1886, when Van Gogh was first starting out working in the Netherlands.These works feature countryside and peasant scenes. On display is "The Potato Eaters", one of the artists major works, although "Still Life with Bible" and "The Vicarage at Nuenen" are also inspiring pieces.
In 1886, Vincent Van Gogh, moved to Paris, and there was a shift in style of the artists work, with a definite bent towards Impressionism, this period includes numerous self-portraits, also many Paris scenes.
The third period commences in 1888, when Van Gogh moved south to Arles. Again it was a period dominated by portraits, although this time of others, but was also the time when Van Gogh painted one of his most famous works, "Sunflowers"
Well, it's the museum made for who love "Impressionism". The paintings are magnificent with natural brush strokes and color tones. Besides this the work in of his last times are more natural. He returns to landscape work and nature around him. The "Daubigny's Garden" is a perfect example here.
In addition to paintings there are also displays dedicated to the personal correspondence of Vincent Van Gogh, notably letters sent to his brother Theo. Additionally there are also exhibits relating to the instruments used by the painter. Well, he used colours and vibrant swirling brush strokes to convey his feelings and his state of mind.
Above all I want to say that this museum is very well organized with guided audio help. One can enjoy both the artworks and life story of Van Gogh. Like me, one who never had experience of Impressionism then do visit this museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and I’m sure that you fell in love with the impression of this great artist not as painter but as writer too.
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