Most people today associate Vincent van Gogh with sunflowers and starry nights. He found the inspiration for such masterpieces of modern art in Provence, in the south of France, where he lived for just over two years, from February 1888 to May 1890. These would be the last years of the Dutch painter’s short but vivid life – Van Gogh died in Auvers-sur-Oise in northern France in July 1890 at the age of 37.
Settling in Arles, he established himself at the Yellow House, where he awaited the arrival of his friend and mentor, the painter Paul Gauguin. The visit ended in disaster, with Van Gogh suffering a breakdown, cutting off his left ear, and eventually admitting himself to the mental health hospital of St Paul at St Rémy. During this period, he created an extraordinary body of work, both drawings and paintings, that are the focus of this beautifully curated exhibition.
