The Washington Post reports that a Vincent Van Gogh painting has been authenticated. The painting has spent the last 60 years in an attic in Norway. The last time a Van Gogh painting was authenticated was 85 years ago. The painting is Sunset at Montmajour. The painting depicts Southern France, Arles, and was around the same time as Sunflowers and The Yellow House.
As I was reading this article, I realized that there is so much we don’t know about so many artists. Authenticating works like this Van Gogh is like finding a piece to a puzzle. The puzzle is Van Gogh’s creative journey. The creative process is complicated and very personal. The artwork (along with other primary resources) is a tool to help us to understand the artist on a deeper level. When we can study how the artist experimented with technique and content, we can begin to understand the artist’s journey. Van Gogh might not have considered this a great work but it helps art historians to understand his creative journey. When we think of Van Gogh’s process rather than the product, the artist becomes a human being and in turn we can relate to the artist whether we are also an artist, an art historian or one who appreciates and loves art. So when a museum has a retrospective exhibit on one artist, go to the exhibit because this is your chance to begin to understand the artist’s creative journey.
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