The opening of this new exhibition on the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch and the Dutch Vincent Van Gogh in the Van Gogh Museum brought along a lot of media attention in the Netherlands, just like the opening of the museum's new entrance hall, resulting in long lines for the ticket booth.
If you want to see the iconic images that you have seen so many times in the art history books in real life this time, maybe it is worth the queue. But my advice to the people who really want to see the art, is to make sure you're there early, before 10AM, so that there is room to walk within the museum and not bump into every single person who is just there to admire the scream or sunflowers.
Even though Vincent and Edvard have never met, their art seems to hold a lot of similarities in themes and methods, which seems to make their work perfect to put side by side.
The exhibition starts of nicely with a look into the artists who influenced the famous Van Gogh and Munch, and then continues with their own work based on either theme, subject and later the emotions captured in their work. Both on the base of expressionism and with a lot of similarities in their subject choices, it is interesting to see how their brushstrokes do differ so much. For instance, get yourself in front of Munch's Sick child and notice how flat the surface is, with some scratches in the paint or thinner layers through which the canvas is visible, while next to this painting there is a landscape by Van Gogh with such precise little brushstrokes it nearly becomes a relievo. Instead of just looking at the big picture, these details can tell a whole story in themselves too.
Most of the exhibition was based on the general public, with basic information on the artists life and influences, nicely categorised in themes. One thing I found interesting where the letters with sketches from both Munch and Van Gogh laid side by side, subcategorised by emotion. In these letters the ideas for paintings can be read (If you can decipher the handwriting and the Norwegian or French, luckily it came provided with translations), but it is also interesting to have a look at people's handwriting.
This exhibition can be seen until January 17th 2016 in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, and can defenitely be recommended if you're interested in seeing some iconic paintings in real life. If you're not in the mood to queue, in the Stedelijk Museum right nextdoors to the Van Gogh Museum there is also an interesting exhibition on 50s and 60s radical art from the avant-gardist group ZERO going until November 8th. If you're into textures and abstract art made from non-conventional materials like me that would be a very nice option if you don't have time to queue or just don't want to, but still want to have a culturally appropriate day.
If you want to see the iconic images that you have seen so many times in the art history books in real life this time, maybe it is worth the queue. But my advice to the people who really want to see the art, is to make sure you're there early, before 10AM, so that there is room to walk within the museum and not bump into every single person who is just there to admire the scream or sunflowers.
Even though Vincent and Edvard have never met, their art seems to hold a lot of similarities in themes and methods, which seems to make their work perfect to put side by side.
The exhibition starts of nicely with a look into the artists who influenced the famous Van Gogh and Munch, and then continues with their own work based on either theme, subject and later the emotions captured in their work. Both on the base of expressionism and with a lot of similarities in their subject choices, it is interesting to see how their brushstrokes do differ so much. For instance, get yourself in front of Munch's Sick child and notice how flat the surface is, with some scratches in the paint or thinner layers through which the canvas is visible, while next to this painting there is a landscape by Van Gogh with such precise little brushstrokes it nearly becomes a relievo. Instead of just looking at the big picture, these details can tell a whole story in themselves too.
Most of the exhibition was based on the general public, with basic information on the artists life and influences, nicely categorised in themes. One thing I found interesting where the letters with sketches from both Munch and Van Gogh laid side by side, subcategorised by emotion. In these letters the ideas for paintings can be read (If you can decipher the handwriting and the Norwegian or French, luckily it came provided with translations), but it is also interesting to have a look at people's handwriting.
This exhibition can be seen until January 17th 2016 in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, and can defenitely be recommended if you're interested in seeing some iconic paintings in real life. If you're not in the mood to queue, in the Stedelijk Museum right nextdoors to the Van Gogh Museum there is also an interesting exhibition on 50s and 60s radical art from the avant-gardist group ZERO going until November 8th. If you're into textures and abstract art made from non-conventional materials like me that would be a very nice option if you don't have time to queue or just don't want to, but still want to have a culturally appropriate day.