Did Van Gogh Want To Forget His Father?

Or was he simply short of cash?

An X-ray of one of Vincent van Gogh’s landscapes has shown how the artist covered up a painting of his father’s graveyard to create his new work.

Poplars near Nuenen, the first Van Gogh to be acquired by a Dutch museum, was X-rayed as part of a £20,000 restoration project to stop paint flaking.

Hidden beneath the scene of two women walking along a tree-lined avenue is Van Gogh’s study of Nuenen’s old church tower and the cemetery where Theodoras van Gogh, his father, had recently been buried.

The artist is thought to have painted the underlying image in 1884, before his father’s unexpected death in March 1885. Van Gogh then painted the new landscape over the top in October 1885.

The artist’s relationship with his father had been strained but it is unclear whether he felt jaded about the graveyard scene or if he was merely saving money by reusing the canvas.

Martin Bailey, author of Van Gogh’s Finale, suggested it was possible that Van Gogh no longer wished to be reminded of his late father. “But I think that’s a bit drastic,” he said. “He never had enough money. He probably re­used the canvas to save money.”

Sandra Eisters, head of research at the Boijmans Museum, Rotterdam, said scholars knew there was an under­painting but not what it looked like. She said the artist appeared to have painted on top of a layer of varnish, which had caused the paint to deteriorate.

Restorers hope to discover whether Van Gogh later touched up his painting after visiting Paris. They think he might have added brighter blues in the sky near the horizon and yellow highlights to the trees after seeing vibrant works by the Impressionists.

The overpainted church appears in a much smaller form in the background of the newer painting. The artist described the final painting in a letter to his brother Theo as “an autumn landscape, trees with yellow leaves”.

For other similar pieces, see my List:

Art and Artists

*************************************************************

Follow this link to join Medium, where you can read many more pieces by me and other members, if you have not already done so!

If you do, please be aware that a portion of your (very low!) membership fee will go to me.

Related posts:

Kita tau bahwa People Power Academy sebagai Pelatihan Facebook Ads Kediri telah berperan besar dalam meramaikan dunia bisnis online. Inilah yang kita namakan internet marketing. Hmm apa alasannya…

When applying for financing from either the Small Business Administration (SBA) or a traditional lender, the most convenient option is to apply online. In the early stage of the application, you do…

Making time for a skincare routine will yield numerous benefits, especially when looking for a healthy beard and a clear face. A daily and nightly routine can help your beard stay moisturized, reduce…