Munch: Van Gogh

Interesting exhibition at the Van Goh Museum in Amsterdam comparing the art of Munch and Van Gogh which shared many stylist themes although they never met.

Both artists were inspired by similar artists who had painted traditional themes and both their first famous works, The Potato Eaters for Van Gogh and Morning for Munch drew on this tradition. They were both in Paris at about the same time and it was interesting to see how they each drew on what was happening around them and to see other works that were contemporary to their time there such as a beautiful scene from a balcony by Caillebotte.

Both had also worked on the idea of pictures forming a decorative programme, Van Gogh with his pictures for the Yellow House and Munch’s Frieze of Life, and the top floor had AV displays which recreated these and you realised how many of the pictures from them you had seen in the show.

There were some interesting hangings of similar pictures together to gently let your eye draw conclusions such at the Van Gogh picture of the Yellow House next to a Munch of a yellow house covered in red Virginia Creeper. 

Closes 26 January 2016.

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