One Painting, One Story : Van Gogh’s Sunflowers
This was the first of a series of member talks based on a new set of books on individual paintings in the gallery to mark its 200th anniversary. In this event Aliki Braine interviewed the art critic Martin Gayford about his work on this painting.
The started by asking why he chose this work and he described how, when writing a book on Van Gogh and the Yellow House, he had come to the gallery and sat with the paintings from that period including this one.
They discussed how Van Gogh had journeyed south to find new light to paint and how sunflowers may have symbolised this to him. They also talked about how this series of paintings were received by Gaugin for whom they’d been painted for his arrival at the Yellow House and what the hang of them might have looked like.
Finally they looked at how the work has been viewed since and why it has come to symbolise the artist to many viewers.
This was my first visit to the new Supporters’ House at the gallery and I was very impressed. At the moment it is very quiet so it is a lovely space in which to avoid the crowds and relax over a nice, if expensive, drink. I look forward to using it like my London club!
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