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Details van Vincent van Gogh, 'De aardappeleters', april-mei 1885, olieverf op doek, 82 x 114 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
Details van Vincent van Gogh, 'De aardappeleters', april-mei 1885, olieverf op doek, 82 x 114 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)

Van Gogh Museum

The Potato Eaters. Mistake or Masterpiece?

How was Van Gogh’s very first masterpiece The Potato Eaters created? What did Vincent want to achieve with this painting, and how did he set to work? Discover all there is to know in the autumn exhibition The Potato Eaters. Mistake or Masterpiece.

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Vincent van Gogh, 'De aardappeleters', april-mei 1885, olieverf op doek, 82 x 114 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
Vincent van Gogh, 'De aardappeleters', april-mei 1885, olieverf op doek, 82 x 114 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)

This autumn, Van Gogh Museum will explore the origins of The Potato Eaters, and reveal Van Gogh’s ambitions when he created this masterpiece.

In this exhibition, you’ll discover that Van Gogh was not only a struggling artist but also an ambitious man who meticulously prepared his work. He painted The Potato Eaters in Nuenen (a village in Brabant) and hoped to break into the Parisian art market with the work.

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Vincent van Gogh, 'Studie voor 'De aardappeleters'', april 1885, olieverf op doek, 33.6 x 44.5 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
Vincent van Gogh, 'Studie voor 'De aardappeleters'', april 1885, olieverf op doek, 33.6 x 44.5 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)

First masterpiece

Van Gogh saw The Potato Eaters as his first true masterpiece, but that is not how it was received at the time. This exhibition gives insight into Van Gogh’s perseverance, how he dealt with criticism, and what the painting meant to him.

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Jozef Israëls, 'Boerengezin aan de maaltijd', 1882, olieverf op doek, 71 x 105 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
Jozef Israëls, 'Boerengezin aan de maaltijd', 1882, olieverf op doek, 71 x 105 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)

Potato Eaters studio

Ready to get even closer to the famous painting and the artist? Let your creativity flow in the special Potato Eaters studio. There are activities for all ages of budding artists, so be sure to bring your (grand)children or nieces and nephews with you!

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Vincent van Gogh, 'Hand met stok, en vier personen aan de maaltijd', maart-april 1885, krijt op papier, 42.4 cm x 34.7 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
Vincent van Gogh, 'Hand met stok, en vier personen aan de maaltijd', maart-april 1885, krijt op papier, 42.4 cm x 34.7 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Stichting)

 

 

 

The Potato Eaters. Mistake or Masterpiece? is on view from 8 October 2021 until 13 February 2022.

Van Gogh Museum
Museumplein 6
Amsterdam
vangoghmuseum.nl