Celebrate Van Gogh’s birthday with his “Sunflowers” of happiness

March 30 is the birthday of one of the most famous artists of all time, Vincent van Gogh. Among his well-known works are The Starry Night, Wheatfield with Crows and Sunflowers. As you know, Van Gogh’s life was no bed of roses. He suffered from bouts of depression and mental health issues. However, sunflowers had a special significance for him as yellow was an emblem of happiness. He painted two series of sunflowers. His best-known series is Arles Sunflowers. Nowadays, only five different versions of Sunflowers are found at museums all around the world.

In celebrating the birthday of our beloved artist, JWD Art Space would like to present you with an intriguing story about one of his Sunflower paintings which is Still Life: Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers showcased at Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands. The notable feature of this painting is its condition which the conservators concluded that the painting is “Stable, but Fragile.

Van Gogh painted this Sunflower in 1889 making it 134 years old. Due to the research, the work had gone through various restorations. There are multiple layers of varnish on the painting which were added at a later date, not by Van Gogh himself. Additionally, throughout the museum’s 46-year history, the masterpiece was loaned out for 6 times. The most recent time was in 2014 when it was on display alongside the version of Sunflowers from the series in The National Gallery in London. On the other hand, it is essential for the work to be preserved for the future generations. One noteworthy conclusion of the research is that layers of ground and paint are stable, but very sensitive to vibrations and changes in humidity and temperature. Therefore, the conservators suggested that the painting should be moved as little as possible and exhibited in a stable climate. The museum then made a final decision that the Sunflowers will no longer travel away in order to avoid any risk.

Besides Van Gogh’s paintings, every work of art should be stored in stable and proper conditions in order to allow the future generations to appreciate the aesthetic values in every piece of work. We hope that Van Gogh’s Sunflowers may bring happiness and spark inspiration to your everyday Life.

Sources:

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/…/conservation-treatment…

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/…/5-things-you-need-to…