Thanks to technology and social media, art lovers can see how their favorite artists work. Many contemporary artists post video footage or time-lapse videos of their creative process, giving us precious insight into their creative minds. And while it may be rarer, did you know that we have similar types of videos from some of the greatest artists in history?

Since moving video was developed at the end of the 19th century, it has been used to document life as we know it. Many artists have allowed video footage to be taken either while they were working or in an interview setting where they explain their artistic philosophy. From Claude Monet painting in his garden to Georgia O'Keeffe's reflection on her career, there is so much to learn.

While the footage might be rare, plenty of it has been uploaded to YouTube, and it just takes a bit of searching to unearth these hidden gems. We've done a lot of the heavy lifting and found some incredible videos for you, which can be viewed below. Standouts include a 74-year-old Renoir struggling through the pain of rheumatoid arthritis to keep painting. Taken in 1915, the video shows Renoir's 14-year-old son Claude placing a paintbrush in his father's hand, which had been permanently deformed by the illness.

Roy Lichtenstein's 1966 interview, in which he confronts criticism about Pop Art, is a fascinating look at how the artist views his work and its role in society. There are also some fun oddities, like Salvador Dalí painting a rhinoceros at the Paris Zoo and Keith Haring executing a live painting during a television show in Italy.

Whether you love watching artists in action or enjoy hearing them discuss the theory behind their art, you'll enjoy this different look at Western art history.

There is a lot of rare footage of artists at work to be found; here are some of our favorites, from Monet to Hopper to Haring.

Claude Monet, 1915

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1915

Auguste Rodin, 1915

Wassily Kandinsky, 1926

Henri Matisse, 1946

Pablo Picasso, 1950

Jackson Pollock, 1951

Salvador Dali, 1955

Marcel Duchamp, 1956

Alberto Giacometti, 1965

Edward Hopper, 1965

Roy Lichtenstein, 1966

Georgia O'Keeffe, 1977

Keith Harring, 1984

Gerhard Richter, 2011

(Please note that this list reflects what’s been made available, hence the lack of female representation commensurate with the absence of their public exposure throughout art history.)

h/t: [Open Culture]

Related Articles:

15 Mesmerizing Videos of Artists Creating Their Art

30 Famous Paintings From Western Art History Any Art Lover Should Know

Insightful Video Shows How Traditional Mahjong Tiles Are Made From Scratch

Monumental Masterpieces: 10 of Art History’s Most Famous Large-Scale Paintings

READ: 16 Rare Videos of Iconic Artists at Work, From Monet to Matisse to Dalí

Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public domain

In ancient Rome, the gladiators who fought at the Colosseum were superstars. The top athletes of their day, these men trained relentlessly to participate in the gruesome battles that entertained up to 80,000 spectators. Many of their lives were short because of these battles, which also involved animals, but they were admired for their courage. A glass cup in The Metropolitan Museum of Art demonstrates just how revered some gladiators were.

Known as the Montagnole Cup, it dates back to around 50 to 80 CE. The translucent green-yellow cup has two friezes running around the sides, with the lower frieze showing four pairs of gladiators in different stances. On one side, a gladiator is lying on the ground, while two others advance with shields. Above them, the names Gamus, Merops, and Calamus are inscribed. Overall, eight gladiators are shown on the cup, some standing victorious and others down in defeat.

According to scholars, these glass cups used a new technique called mold blowing to place the images and text into the glass. Since some of the names inscribed match the names of popular gladiators, it's believed that this cup was used as a souvenir for games held in Rome during the Julio-Claudian period.

Dr. Kimberley Cassibry, associate professor of art at Wellesley College, writes that these cups were quite popular, and there are hundreds of examples throughout the Roman Empire. Charioteers were also featured on these cups, once again demonstrating the population's love for entertainment and spectacle. They became a way for people across the empire to remember and participate in these games over and over again.

“In the end, the novel experiences offered by the cups made the vessels themselves desirable,” writes Dr. Cassibry. “They became a spectacle in their own right, something worth seeing, both in Rome and in the provinces.”

In ancient Rome, some gladiators became famous for their feats during gruesome battles in the Colosseum.

“Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down)” by Jean-Léon Gérôme. 1872. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Mold-blown glass cups featuring gladiators and their names became souvenirs, showing the popularity of these spectacles.

Photo: Dr. Kimberly Cassibry via Destinations in Mind (CC BY-NC)

Related Articles:

The Colorful History of Depression Glass and Its Continued Popularity

This “Normal” Drinking Glass Is Actually an Ancient Greek Party Prank

Archaeologists Have Determined What Ancient Roman Wine Tasted Like

Explore the Early 20-Side Icosahedron Dice That Were Tossed in Ancient Rome

READ: Intricate Glass Cups Featuring Gladiators Were Souvenirs in Ancient Rome

Notre Dame burns in 2019. (Photo: Wandrille de Préville via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)

When Notre-Dame caught fire in 2019, millions of eyes watched, riveted in France and around the world. The devastating fire destroyed much of the roof and spires, and also severely damaging the priceless works of art within the church. The time since has revealed how medieval and modern can work together to rebuild. Building on traditional techniques used to create the cathedral, modern architects and conservators have fought to recreate and preserve. Thankfully, many of Notre-Dame's treasures were eventually saved from the building, either during the fire or afterwards. Among these were famous paintings belonging to what is known as the Mays, a series if religious paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. These 13 works have now been conserved and will be displayed at the Mobilier National through July 2024.

These paintings are 13 held in Notre-Dame collections, but they are part of a larger series created between 1630 and 1707 and now held in multiple collections. They feature Christian scenes. The term “Mays” comes from the May deadline of the yearly contest hosted by the Confrérie des Orfèvres to honor the Virgin Mary. The politico-religious background is more complex. The paintings highlighted the Catholic victory in France's prior religious wars. While once all belonging to Notre-Dame, many paintings moved elsewhere during the French Revolution. Those remaining were removed in the 19th century during redecoration, and replaced in the cathedral in the early 20th century.

Emmanuel Pénicaut, director of Mobilier National who restored the paintings, told The Guardian, “We were lucky to get them out quite quickly with just a little water damage and dust. It was rather miraculous. We began removing them the day after the fire and decided they would all be restored. The exhibition is a chance to see them all in one place, in the order they were painted, which is how they would have been originally displayed. What you see now is how they would have looked the day they were completed.”

The works will be displayed in an exhibit entitled Notre-Dame's Restored Masterpieces, a unique opportunity to see them restored and exhibited outside the cathedral. They will return to their true home in advance of the planned December grand reopening of Notre-Dame to the public.

The Notre-Dame fire in 2019 ravaged the cathedral, destroying parts of its architecture and the art it housed.

Inside the magnificent cathedral before the fire. (Photo: Peter K Burian via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)

Luckily, some paintings were saved and restored, and now they are back on display in an exhibit titled Notre-Dame's Restored Masterpieces.

Jacques Blanchard, “The Descent of the Holy Spirit,” 1634. Currently in the collection of Notre-Dame. This image prior to restoration. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Charles Poerson, “The Preaching of St. Peter in Jerusalem,” 1642. Currently in the Notre-Dame collections. This image prior to restoration. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

h/t: [The Guardian]

Related Articles:

Conservator Restores 16th-Century Portrait of Isabella de’ Medici, the “Paris Hilton” of the Italian Renaissance

X-Ray Scans Reveal Hidden Portrait of the Young Charles II Behind the Older King

Lost Tudor Wall Paintings Found in Cambridge University Building

Painting Valued at $15K Turns Out to Be a Rembrandt, Sells for $13.8M at Auction

READ: Historic Paintings Miraculously Saved From Notre-Dame Fire Are Now Back on Display

Photo: Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (Left); Apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (Right)

The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in art history. The Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece has been widely studied and millions flock to Paris' Louvre Museum to see it in person every year. However, it is far from the only existing version of this painting. A copy made by one of da Vinci's apprentices at the same time as the original—making it the earliest known copy—is held in Madrid's Museo del Prado. The Prado Mona Lisa painting sheds light on the creation and details of the original, but is also a striking piece in its own right.

This painting has belonged to the Prado Museum since its foundation in 1819. However, for almost two centuries it was regarded as a relatively unimportant copy among the dozens of surviving Mona Lisa duplicates from the 16th and 17th centuries. This was exacerbated by a repainting the original composition had suffered. At some point in the 18th century, the landscape in the background was all covered in black, possibly due to some elements being unfinished.

Its fate changed in 2011. Aware of it being a copy that dated back to the first quarter of the 16th century, the Louvre requested to have it featured in an exhibition titled Leonardo's Last Masterpiece: The Sainte Anne. To get it ready, the Prado Museum launched a restoration project. On top of finding that the black varnish had been added almost two centuries later, they submitted their Mona Lisa to a study of infrared reflectography and radiography.

This process unveiled the preparatory underdrawing, identical in structure but traced with a different style in both paintings, as well as the drawing's corrections. This revealed that the copyist followed much of da Vinci's process for making the original piece. “The figures are identical in size and shape and were transferred by tracing, undoubtedly from the same cartoon,” writes the Prado Museum. Despite their similarities, the museum states, “There is no doubt that the imprecision and delicacy of Leonardo's painting is quite different to the precise technique of the artist who painted the Prado panel.”

While lacking da Vinci's signature sfumato and its drawing is of a lesser quality, the Prado's Mona Lisa offers unique insights, from the color palette—as the varnish in the original has become cracked and yellowed with age—to the changes made by da Vinci on the go, which were relayed to this painting. “Overall, the panel seems to reflect an intermediate stage in the creation of the Louvre painting,” says the Prado Museum. Ultimately, this copy of the Mona Lisa is the closest thing we have to a time machine that allows us to peek inside da Vinci's working methods.

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, currently on display at the Louvre, is arguably the most famous painting in art history, but it actually has a “twin” painting at the Prado Museum.

Photo: Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

The Prado Museum's Mona Lisa painting sheds light on the creation and details of the original, but is also a striking piece in its own right.

Image: Apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Since it was made by one of da Vinci's apprentices at the same time as the original, it is the earliest known copy on record.

Photo: Apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

For two centuries, a black varnish covered the landscape in the background.

Photo: Apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

A study of infrared reflectography and radiography then revealed the preparatory underdrawing, identical in structure but traced with a different style.

Photo: Apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

“Overall, the panel seems to reflect an intermediate stage in the creation of the Louvre painting,” says the Prado Museum.

Photo: Apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Related Articles:

Renaissance Master Leonard Da Vinci Wrote One of the Earliest Known Resumés

‘Mona Lisa’ Is Brought to Life at the Louvre’s First VR Experience

Genius Mind of Leonardo da Vinci Is Now on Display in Largest Online Archive

The Significance of Leonardo da Vinci’s Famous “Vitruvian Man” Drawing

READ: ‘Mona Lisa’ Has a Nearly Identical Painting Created at the Same Time

“Irises” by Vincent Van Gogh. 1889. (Photo: The Getty, Public domain)

As home to one of the nation's most thorough art collections, The Getty has found an innovative way for it to reach more audiences. By launching their Open Content program back in 2013, they've made hundreds upon thousands of their cultural artifacts freely accessible online to anyone in the world. Throughout the years, this priceless resource has only grown, with The Getty recently announcing that nearly 88,000 high-resolution images of artworks from its collection are now available for free download under Creative Commons Zero (CC0).

“Users can download, edit, and repurpose high-resolution images of their favorite Getty artworks without any legal restrictions,” writes the museum. “Add a print of your favorite Dutch still life to your gallery wall or create a shower curtain using the Irises by Van Gogh—the possibilities are endless.”

Browsing an archive this size can feel like a daunting endeavor. That's why The Getty has designed a user-friendly platform that allows people to search by artist name, title, date, culture, medium, dimensions, object type, and more. The museum has vowed to continue to grow this resource as it acquires more works and others enter the public domain.

Getty's Open Content program is home to iconic works by trailblazing artists. One can explore the last two centuries of painting with creations by Claude Monet, Piet Mondrian, Édouard Manet, and Edvard Munch; study historical marble sculptures, like the famed Alexander the Great portrait; or get lost in the intricate details of the medieval Book of Hours.

“We’re glad the art community has adopted CC0 as the industry standard to help broaden the impact of collections worldwide and remove barriers to experiencing art,” says Richard Rand, associate director of collections at the Getty Museum. “We hope the public continues to enjoy exploring and using our images in creative ways for years to come.”

Start exploring The Getty's Open Content platform here.

The Getty recently announced that nearly 88,000 high-resolution images of artworks from its collection are now available for free download.

“Landscape with Ceres (Allegory of Earth)” by Jan Brueghel the Younger, Hendrik van Balen. 1630s. (Photo: The Getty, Public domain)

“Users can download, edit, and repurpose high-resolution images of their favorite Getty artworks without any legal restrictions,” writes the museum.

“Sunrise (Marine)” by Claude Monet. 1872 or 1873. (Photo: The Getty, Public domain)

The Getty's Open Content program is home to some iconic works by trailblazing artists, from modernist painters to historical marble sculptures.

“Landscape near Arnhem” by Piet Mondrian. 1900-1901. (Photo: The Getty, Public domain)

The Getty: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
h/t: [Open Culture]

Related Articles:

You Can Now View Nearly 500 Rembrandt Etchings for Free Online

Getty Gives Public Access To 30,000 Images of Black History and Culture

Online Archive Provides Free Coloring Book Pages From Over 100 Libraries and Museums

Getty Images Releases Commercially Safe AI Image Generator Based on Its Own Media Library

READ: Nearly 88,000 Art Images From The Getty Are Now Free To Download and Use How You Like

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Christie's (@christiesinc)

The world-renowned painter Claude Monet is famous today, and during his time among his Impressionist peers, for his fascination with natural scenes. Perhaps best known for painting the water lilies at his home at Giverny, he also found beauty in other parts of nature and architecture, including haystacks, cathedrals, and seascapes. Among Monet's paintings, the Seine River makes frequent appearances. He painted his hazy, cool-toned Matinée sur la Seine, temps net (translated as Morning on the Seine, clear weather) over 20 times, varying shades to reflect nature's own changes. Some examples of this series can be found at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the White House in Washington, D.C., among other collections. In March 2024, a painting from this series sold at Christie's for an impressive $18.4 million.

This Matinée sur la Seine, temps net series featuring the banks of the river was painted between 1896 and 1897. Monet created his own studio on a boat from which he could observe the chosen vantage. His works reflected shifting weather and light, and are stunning examples of Impressionists' treatment of light. Many of the works were then exhibited at the Galerie Georges Petit in 1898. The works also represent Monet's growing love for Giverny, the picturesque town he adopted in middle age and in which he lived the rest of his years. The painting series focused on where the Seine passes by this locale, rather than in Paris' bustling heart.

The recently auctioned work shows a sunny day beginning to break over the river, fluffy clouds just peeking out. The contemporary critic, Maurice Guillemot, upon viewing the works and interviewing the painter deemed the series “a marvel of contagious emotion and intense poetry.” The last time this specific work was offered at auction was 1978, when it was purchased by an anonymous buyer. This sale hit an impressive figure; however, it pales in comparison to some of Monet's other works—a water lilies painting sold for $74 million in 2023. No matter the price tag, a chance to own a Monet from this series is a rare treat.

A version of Monet's Matinée sur la Seine, temps net sold at auction at Christie's on March 7, 2024, fetching an impressive $18.4 million.

A copy of “Morning on the Seine” currently held at Boston's MFA. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)

h/t: [Christie's]

Related Articles:

Art History: Ancient Practice of Textile Art and How It Continues to Reinvent Itself

Sister Duo Weaves Textured Wall Hangings Inspired by Australian Landscapes

How to Crochet: Learn the Basics of This Time Honored Handicraft

Artist Fills Forest with Life-Size Sculptures Made from Woven Rods of Willow

READ: Monet’s Painting of the Seine River Sells at Auction for $18.5 Million

Photo: Aix-en-Provence

When Paul Cézanne was a young man, his father purchased a mansion in the French town of Aix-en-Provence. And, as any artist is apt to do, Cézanne took it upon himself to decorate the walls with his art. While it was thought that all of his oil paintings, watercolors, and murals in the home, known as Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, had been documented, we now know that this is not true.

During a renovation of the “Grand Salon” in August 2023, the remains of a previously unknown mural were discovered. Prior to the discovery, art historians had recorded nine Cézanne pieces in the home, which was sold by the artist and his sister in 1899. Those murals were transferred to canvas and dispersed to different museums. Now, this newly recovered work was recently presented at a press conference attended by Cézanne's great-grandson, as well as the mayor of Aix-en-Provence, and experts from Société Paul Cézanne and the Musée Granet.

Found under layers of plaster and wallpaper, the remains of the mural appear to show a maritime scene. The borders contain ship masts and banners flying in the breeze, though unfortunately, the central and lower sections have been ripped away, not allowing us to see what else the Post-Impressionist painter had in mind. “A sky, banners atop a ship’s mast? A port entrance? With this unexpected discovery, Cézanne has not finished moving us, either,” the mayor and French senator Sophie Joissains shared on Facebook.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the fragments of this new work once renovations are complete in time for the 2025 celebration that Aix-en-Provence is planning for Cézanne. Joissans added, “The public will then be able to discover this place, enriched by the updating of its first paintings produced from 1859, as well as by the arrival in Aix of the most famous of Cézanne’s paintings, The Card Players.”

And while you may be wondering if Cézanne left any more surprises, researchers shared that the rest of the home has been checked thoroughly, so they don't expect anything else to be discovered.

A mural by Paul Cézanne was discovered under wallpaper in plaster in his family home.

“House and Farm at Jas de Bouffan” by Paul Cézanne. 1887. (Photo: WikiArt, Public domain)

The remains of the mural appear to show a seascape, with ship masts and banners still visible.

Photo: Sophie Joissains

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

Related Articles:

Conservators Discover a Hidden Van Gogh Self-Portrait Under Another Artwork

Artemisia Gentileschi Lost Painting Found in King Charles’ “Attic” and Is Restored

Cézanne Self-Portrait Hidden Under a Still Life Is Discovered After Almost 160 Years

Couple Renovating Their Kitchen Discovers 400-Year-Old Paintings Hidden Underneath

READ: Hidden Cézanne Mural Discovered in the Walls of the Post-Impressionist Artist’s Family Home

“The Fourth Oriental Head” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

The seventeenth-century Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn was known for his use of contrast and experimental brushwork in his stunning paintings, but many people would be hard-pressed to name more than one or two of his works. Now, thanks to the work of New York's Morgan Library and Museum, you can view almost 500 original Rembrandt etchings online for free.

The Morgan Library and Museum, which is celebrating its 100th year, has digitized “almost 500 images from the Morgan’s exceptional collection of Rembrandt etchings,” according to its website. Some of these etchings include self-portraits and sketches of scenes from the Bible, everyday life, and landscapes. They date from the late 1620s to the mid-1660s.

On its website, the library states, “Renowned in the history of printmaking, Rembrandt's etchings are famous for their dramatic intensity, penetrating psychology, and touching humanity.” These aspects of Rembrandt's work are as clear as day in his etchings, as the people in his portraits stare just to the side of the viewer with an intensely focused look in their eyes. Even his landscapes are striking and authentic, with trees drawn to stand out starkly against the sky and additional foliage carefully penciled in.

To view these etchings for yourself, you can go to the Morgan Library and Museum's website.

The Morgan Library and Museum recently uploaded nearly 500 Rembrandt etchings to their website, which are free for anyone to view.

“The Artist's Mother Seated” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

“Peasant with his Hands Behind his Back” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

These 500 etchings cover a wide variety of topics, from portraits of everyday people to expansive Biblical scenes.

“Christ Before Pilate” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

“Sacrifice of Isaac” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

“The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

Landscape portraits are also common in the collection of etchings.

“The Three Trees” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

“Cottage Beside a Canal with a View of Ouderkerk” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

According to the Morgan's website, each of these etchings “are famous for their dramatic intensity, penetrating psychology, and touching humanity.”

“Nude Man Seated Before a Curtain” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

“Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Courtesy of The Morgan Library & Museum.

Morgan Library and Museum: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Open Culture]

Related Articles:

Beautiful Portraits Inspired by Rembrandt’s Flemish Paintings

AI Used to Restore Long-Lost Edges of Rembrandt’s Masterpiece ‘The Night Watch’

How Rembrandt Expressed Himself Through His 80 Self-Portraits Created Throughout His Life

Pair of Small 17th-Century Portrait Paintings by Rembrandt Are Rediscovered After 200 Years

READ: You Can Now View Nearly 500 Rembrandt Etchings for Free Online

Photo: Maia C via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED)

Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is primarily known for his paintings that look like frames from a comic strip, but did you know that he was also a sculptor? The American artist has several public sculptures on view, but perhaps some of his most charming work comes from his House series. These whimsical sculptures play with color and perspective in a way that is uniquely Lichtenstein.

Produced in the late 1990s, the House series consists of two freestanding and one wall sculpture. Rendered in white, red, and yellow, the houses change dramatically depending on where the viewer stands. The relatively flat sculpture appears fully three-dimensional when viewed at a precise angle. This playful game of perspective was carefully cultivated by the artist, who produced numerous studies for the three sculptures.

Moving from sketches on paper to small mockups, Lichtenstein plays with the placement of color, perhaps in an effort to see which combination gave the most dramatic result. While a full-scale prototype of House I was produced in 1996, the final versions from the House series were fabricated posthumously after Lichtenstein died in 1997 at the age of 73. Today, House I is on view in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and House III can be found at Atlanta's High Museum of Art. The painted aluminum piece was fabricated in 2003 after being commissioned by the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation.

House II, of which both an artist's proof and a posthumously fabricated edition exist, is harder to view. This is primarily because both fabrications are part of private collections. It was last on view in 2013 when it was part of a Lichtenstein exhibition in Venice.

In the late 1990s, Roy Lichtenstein designed a series of House sculptures that are carefully cultivated illusions.

Watch High Museum of Art curator Michael Rooks discuss Roy Lichtenstein's House III.

h/t: [Laughing Squid]

Related Articles:

10 Best Sculpture Parks Around the World

Mind-Bending Gate Design Is an Optical Illusion Extending Back Into Space

Beautiful ‘Staircase to Heaven’ Sculpture Is Actually a Mind-Bending Optical Illusion

6 Pioneering Pop Artists Who Defined The Movement Bridging “High” and “Low” Art

READ: Roy Lichtenstein’s House Sculptures Are Mind-Bending Optical Illusions in Real Life

Van Gogh in a self-portrait, 1887. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Artist Vincent van Gogh is one of the world's most famous painters in art history. Known for cutting off his own ear in a depressed period in later life, the painter was a leading figure in the Post-Impressionism movement. But before his vivid swirls and vases of sunflowers, Van Gogh was inspired by realist painters such as Jean-François Millet. His early works were scenes of everyday life, such as shoes with laces undone, prisoners, peasants, and tranquil country scenes. Among these works is a small canvas called Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring. Painted in 1884, the work was dramatically stolen in 2020, returned in an IKEA bag in 2023, and now it will be on display to the public for the first time since this chain of events.

The painting was stolen while it was on loan to the Singer Laren Museum outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands. As the world locked down in March 2020, thieves snuck into the shutter museum, smashed glass, and made off with the painting under their arm. Covered on camera, the identity of the thief and his criminal backers was eventually discovered by law enforcement. However, the painting was not recovered. Art detective Arthur Brand says, “We knew that the painting would go from one hand to another hand in the criminal world, but that nobody really wanted to touch it because it wasn’t worth anything. You could only get in trouble. So it was a little bit cursed.”

Brand told media that someone holding the painting even totally contacted him, and with permission of authorities he organized a drop by the unnamed individual. The individual came to Brand's home with the painting wrapped in bubble wrap, placed inside a pillow case, and encased in a classic blue Ikea bag.

The painting was quickly verified to be the true Van Gogh. Unfortunately, it now has a visible white gash that goes through the many layers of paint and varnish. Marjan de Visser, a conservator, has already begun working to clean the old varnish and learn more about the materials of the painting so that it can be preserved for generations. De Visser explains, “This is how the young Van Gogh painted, before he went to art academy in Antwerp.”

After its three year adventure, the painting was finally returned to its owner, the Groninger Museum. Now, it has triumphantly been presented to the media, and will soon go on view to the public. Starting March 29, 2024, visitors will be able to view the piece at the Groninger Museum. It now presents a fascinating spectacle of both one of the world's greatest artists and one of the world's most recent dramatic art thefts.

A painting by Vincent van Gogh, titled Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring, was stolen in 2020, and mysteriously returned in an IKEA bag after three years.

Embed from Getty Images

Now, it will go on display to the public in March 2024.

Embed from Getty Images

h/t: [The Guardian]

Related Articles:

How Vincent van Gogh’s Art Evolved During His Short Life

Vincent van Gogh Fan Illustrates the Dutch Artist’s Life in a Colorful Comic Series

1,500 Van Gogh Artworks Have Been Digitized and Put Online

Van Gogh Museum Releases Sustainable Sneakers Based on the Iconic Artist’s Masterpieces

READ: Stolen Van Gogh Painting Recovered in an IKEA Bag Will Go on Display