Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum
In Amsterdam, there's so much to explore, but I found the Van Gogh Museum to be particularly amazing, far exceeding my expectations. I've been pondering why it struck such a chord with me, and I think it's because I was astounded to learn that Van Gogh's vast collection of work was produced in merely a decade! I was also deeply moved by his profound relationship with his brother, Theo. And of course, there’s the incredible art he produced during his lifetime.
So in this blog post, I will follow Vincent Van Gogh’s life from his early life and career to his death. Throughout this narrative, I will showcase paintings that I liked from the museum collection, and I hope to weave in stories about his close relationship with his brother Theo. I’ll also touch a bit on how instrumental Theo’s wife was in marketing Van Gogh’s work, setting in motion the fame Van Gogh enjoys today. The museum does an amazing job at weaving these stories in, and I hope I can do the same for you.
Visit our Amsterdam Destination Guide to learn how to navigate Amsterdam’s public transportation, read about the best hotels to stay in, and view our list of things to do and see. Moreover, read all our related blog posts on Amsterdam in our Spotlight section of our Destination Guide including Biking in Amsterdam, 3-day Amsterdam Itinerary, and all about the Museumplein and Rijksmuseum. Now, let’s get started!
Getting your Tickets to the Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is one of Amsterdam's most popular attractions. Secure your tickets in advance by purchasing early especially during peak seasons. You will need to select the date and time you plan to visit. During the check-out process, you can also add an audio guide in your preferred language.
If you have a Museum Card (Museumkaart), then you have a free access to the Van Gogh Museum. As stated in our Things to Do in Amsterdam from our Amsterdam Destination Guide, the Museumkaart can save you money if you are planning to see at least 4 museums.
** You will still need to book your ticket online by selecting the date and time you plan to visit. Then select your tickets where you’ll see selection for Adult tickets or for visitors under 18 years old. Make sure to expand the types of tickets available, and you should be ablet to see the Museumkaart as an option which has a ticket price of €0.
Viator or Get Your Guide Tours are another option to consider to deepen your appreciation for this incredible history and art.
About the Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is a celebration of Van Gogh’s prolific career spanning only a decade(!). Home to the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world, this museum not only offers insight into the artist's tumultuous life but also showcases the breadth of his work, from early sketches to his most celebrated paintings. The museum opened in 1973, celebrating 50 years in 2023.
Vincent Van Gogh’s Timeline
Vincent Van Gogh's Early Life 1853 - 1873
Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in the small town of Zundert in Netherlands. He is the eldest among six siblings and grew up in a nurturing environment where his father, a devoted pastor, played a significant role in shaping the family's values. Their home life was filled with nature walks through the countryside of Zundert, igniting Vincent's lifelong affair with the natural world and embedding a deep appreciation for its beauty.
Wheatfield, Arles, June 1888
At age 11, Vincent attended a boarding school and at the age of 15, he left school. The reasons behind this pivotal decision remain a mystery, signaling the beginning of a non-traditional path for van Gogh. It wasn't long before his uncle stepped in, securing him a position as a trainee with an international art dealer, Goupil & Cie. This opportunity marked the first step in Vincent's journey into the art world.
The year 1872 became a cornerstone in Vincent's life, not for his budding art career, but for initiating the voluminous exchange of letters with his younger brother Theo. This correspondence would continue throughout his life, providing invaluable insights into Vincent's thoughts, struggles, and artistic development. Theo, following in Vincent's footsteps, joined Goupil & Cie in 1873.
Vincent's career with Goupil & Cie took a significant turn in 1873 when he was transferred to their London branch.
Van Gogh’s Early Career 1873 – 1881
During his stay in London, Vincent van Gogh frequented numerous museums, and read a wide range of literature and poetry, as well as museum guides and magazines, signaling his growing fascination with the arts. His move to Paris in 1875 represented a another pivotal shift, not only geographically but also in his personal and professional life. In Paris, Vincent found himself increasingly drawn to religion. To me, this reflected his deepening quest for meaning. He was also growing increasingly dissatisfied with Goupil & Cie, culminating in his dismissal in 1876.
Returning to London, Vincent took up a position as an unpaid assistant teacher at a boys' boarding school, a role that offered him valuable experience. He soon secured a paid teaching position in a private school run by a vicar, where he was also given opportunities to preach. This engagement not only allowed him to share his growing religious interests but also to connect more deeply with the community.
By the end of 1876, Vincent decided to spend Christmas with his family in the Netherlands, a visit that turned into a longer stay upon their advice. In 1877, his uncle secured him a job as a bookseller. Yet, Vincent's aspirations leaned towards theology, prompting his parents to support his enrollment in a theological school. Because Vincent did not complete his formal education, he was required to take an entrance exam, which led him to move to Amsterdam to prepare with the help of another uncle. Despite these efforts, Vincent's lack of discipline and preference for wandering the countryside signaled his waning interest in formal theological studies, leading to abandoning this path.
Vicarage and Church at Etten, Etten, April 1876. Source: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection
In a significant turn of events, Vincent moved to Belgium around 1879, embracing the role of a lay preacher, despite foregoing his theological studies. He continued to correspond with his brother Theo. His letters to Theo during this time included drawings of what he had seen. It was around this time that Theo advised him to concentrate on his drawings instead. This led to Vincent moving to Brussels in 1880 and began working on his drawings. Vincent was not earning any income, so Theo would send him money.
The years 1873-1881 were transformative for Vincent van Gogh, marked by a series of geographical and vocational shifts that reflected his search for purpose and passion. This journey, from art dealer to teacher and preacher, and finally to an artist, highlights the complex interplay of his interests, beliefs, and emerging talents. It was a period of exploration and self-discovery, laying the groundwork for his later achievements in the art world.
PAINTING YEARS -1881 to 1890
1881 – 1883
In 1881, Vincent van Gogh returned to his parents’ home in Etten. However, tensions within the family culminated in Vincent's departure on Christmas Day, propelling him towards a new chapter in The Hague. It was here that he connected with Anton Mauve, a relative by marriage and an established painter, who introduced Vincent to the fundamentals of painting. This mentorship proved invaluable, as did his first commission for twelve city view drawings, which challenged him to refine his perspective techniques.
The following year, 1882, brought about a controversial phase in Vincent's life involving his relationship with Sien, a former prostitute who was pregnant and already with another child. Vincent van Gogh lived with her in a studio apartment. Theo continued to support van Gogh financially despite not supporting this decision, underscoring the complex dynamics of their relationship.
By 1883, Vincent's restless spirit and the pursuit of artistic growth led him to leave Sien and venture to Drenthe, a rural area in the Netherlands known for its stark beauty. This period was one of solitude and intense productivity for Vincent, yet the harsh weather and isolation eventually drove him to seek refuge once more with his family. By the end of the year, he relocated to Nuenen, where his parents had settled in a village in Brabant.
1883 -1885
While in Nuenen, Van Gogh painted many farm scenes, rural laborers, and weavers. In 1884, Vincent proposed to Theo, who was still financially supporting him, to take his paintings with the idea of selling it. It was a way to pay back his brother. The plan did not come to fruition as Theo was working in Paris. The French aesthetics of the time was more vibrant, and Vincent’s work during this time period was darker in tone.
Still Life with Bible, Nuenen, October 1885
His father passed away in March 1885, and shortly thereafter, he painted the Potato Eaters. Later that year, he moved to Antwerp to study in an art school. He never returned to the Netherlands again.
The Potato Eaters, Nuenen, April-May 1885
1886 - 1888
Vincent Van Gogh did not stay in Antwerp too long. His style did not resonate with the art school as revealed in a letter to Theo, claiming that “I actually find all the drawings I see there hopelessly bad — and fundamentally wrong.”
So, he arranged with Theo to move to Paris to learn from Fernand Comon, an artist popular with foreign students. However, while Theo tried to find a suitable place for both of them to live, Vincent arrived unannounced in Paris.
Red Cabbages and Garlic, Paris, October-November 1887
At any rate, Vincent Van Gogh learned to paint with more vibrancy and lots of color while in Paris. He was introduced to artists like Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Emile Bernard. These impressionist painters had influenced Vincent’s style. He painted with more colors and shorter brush strokes. This change was also accompanied by a change in his paintings’ subject matter – where he once painted peasants or farmers, he started painting cafes and floral still lifes. He also tried out portraits – mostly painting himself as the subject as models were too expensive for him to afford at the time.
Self Portrait, Paris, September-October 1887
Eventually, the restless Van Gogh grew tired of urban living, and wanted to moved to the countryside. He left for Provence and arrived on February 20, 1888.
1888 – 1889
Van Gogh settled in Arles where his painting grew more expressive and had a freer brushstrokes. He painted harvest scenes and blossoms. He painted over 180 paintings while in Arles. But it was here also where his life became a little turbulent.
Seascape near Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Arles, June 1888
Vincent wanted to create an “artist colony” where he would invite artists to paint and send paintings to Theo to sell. He rented the “Yellow House” on Place Lamartine with four rooms.
Paul Gaugin was the first artist to arrive in October of 1888, and unfortunately, would also be the last. Though their time together in Arles produced some great art, they differed in how they viewed different arts, creating a tension between them.
The Bedroom, Arles, October 1888
In his letter to Theo dated December 18, 1888: “Gauguin and I talk a lot about Delacroix, Rembrandt &c. The discussion is excessively electric. We sometimes emerge from it with tired minds, like an electric battery after it’s run down.”
Eventually, this tension would lead to the infamous incident where Van Gogh cut off his own ear just before Christmas on December 1888. He was hospitalized and it became apparent that he had some mental health issues.
He immediately resumes work upon release and eventually goes into what we would call a depression during February and March of 1889. But Van Gogh bounces back and resumes to paint a series of orchards. In May 1889, he admits himself into St. Remy’s asylum.
Sunflowers, Arles, January 1889
During this time, Theo marries Johanna “Jo” Bonger in April 1889 in Amsterdam.
1890
Jo gives birth to Theo’s son in January 1890, who Theo named Vincent, after his brother.
Almond Blossom, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, February 1890
Vincent Van Gogh spends a year in the hospital (from May 1889 to May 1890) but continues to be prolific in his work. During this time, he painted 150 pieces of artwork.
He left St. Remy in May 1890 and headed to Auvers-sur-Oise, a town closer to Paris and where other artists resided. That’s also where he started seeing Dr. Paul Gachet. He started working with new hope and goals but felt more and more lonely and sad. Despite this, Van Gogh kept making strong and emotional art, finishing 74 paintings in Auvers, which is more than one painting a day.
During 1890, Vincent van Gogh's art was displayed in Brussels and well-liked, leading to the sale of one of his paintings.
View of Auvers-sur-Oise, Auvers-sur-Oise, May-June 1890
While in Auvers, Vincent visited his brother Theo in Paris and learned that Theo might leave his art dealer job to start a new business. This made Vincent very worried about his financial situation, despite being assured by Jo and Theo that everything will be fine. Burdened by financial worry and other mental health woes, Van Gogh shot himself in an open wheatfield on July 27, 1890. He died two days later in a hospital.
A half year later, Theo also passes away.
The Raising of Lazarus (after Rembrandt), Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, May 1890
Vincent and Theo
Could there be a Vincent without a Theo? The financial support that Theo provided Vincent made it possible for Vincent van Gogh to dedicate himself entirely to art. I was, however, still unclear where Theo’s dedication came from because he was four years younger than Vicent, and I know from the storyline that the museum lays out, Vincent left home for boarding school at age 11, which makes Theo seven years old.
Their extensive correspondence, over 800 letters, most of which were from Vincent to Theo, offers profound insights into Vincent's thoughts, aspirations, and struggles. This exchange underscores the emotional lifeline Theo also provided.
It’s also very moving and poignant to learn that Theo died 6 months after Vincent van Gogh.
Johanna van Gogh-Bonger
Following Theo's untimely death, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, Theo's widow, found herself in possession of a vast collection of Vincent's works. Recognizing the genius in Vincent's art, Johanna embarked on a mission to bring his work to the public's attention. She organized exhibitions, engaged with critics, and published Vincent's letters, effectively laying the foundation for his recognition as a master artist. Her efforts were instrumental in altering the perception of Vincent van Gogh from a relatively unknown artist to one of the luminaries of modern art.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post on the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Happy Travels!
Zellie, your forever a traveler.
