Van Gogh Exhibition puts Art Museum on International Stage

The Cincinnati Art Museum presents "Van Gogh: Into the Undergrowth," a stunning exhibition of paintings from October 15-January 8. 

"This is a wonderful show of 25 works, nine of which are by (Vincent) Van Gogh," says Julie Aronson, curator of the exhibit. "This will be the first time this group of pictures has all been assembled in one place."

The exhibition consists of paintings on loan from Cleveland, Dallas, Tokyo, Paris and Amsterdam. "It’s going to be great to have these pictures here in Cincinnati," Aronson says. "Some of them are from private collections that are rarely seen."

The exhibition centers around one of the highlights from the museum’s own collection, "Undergrowth with Two Figures."

 "The show draws attention to one of the masterpieces of our collection, which is a visitor favorite," Aronson says. "I think it’s going to help people understand that painting better and to see it in context."

The exhibition explores the theme of that painting, the forest floor and forest interior, by looking at Van Gogh’s contemporaries and their treatment of the subject, as well as the artist’s own evolution. "The show offers a unique close-up look at Van Gogh and the way he worked through a theme over a period of time." 

The exhibition includes paintings by Théodore Rousseau, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin. "The other artists in the show are masters in their own right," Aronson says. "It’s going to be a very beautiful exhibition."

Because of the exhibition’s beauty and approachable subject matter, Aronson expects the show will have a wide appeal. "You don’t have to know anything about art to appreciate these paintings," she says. "You can appreciate them on different levels."

Even though the paintings will please all audiences, Aronson believes artists will especially love the exhibition. "When you see Van Gogh’s paintings in person, they have such rich texture and vibrant color." 

In addition to drawing large crowds, Aronson expects the show will stir interest in the art community. "It’s a show that’s going to put us on a national and international stage, because there’s going to be a lot of interest among other museum professionals and art historians."

Tickets for the exhibition, as well as a scholarly catalog to accompany it, will be available at the museum and online. In addition, one of the world’s foremost Van Gogh experts, Cornelia Homburg, will speak on October 16.

"We are very excited about this exhibition," Aronson says. "It’s going to give you a much better sense of where Van Gogh was coming from and an opportunity to see a group of breathtaking paintings."

The Cincinnati Art Museum is located 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202. You can reach them at 513.721.2787 or visit their website at www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

Tickets for "Van Gogh: Into the Undergrowth" will be available for purchase at the Cincinnati Art Museum and online at cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Free for museum members.