The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest

Birthday Party with Van Gogh

Although the exhibition was opened for more than three months, the line in front of the building did not shorten till the very end. Tickets had to be reserved, because the number of people that the museum could accept at the same time was much smaller than the number of people who wanted to see the exhibition. Those who did not reserve the tickets could find themselves in the situation of waiting in front of the museum for the whole day and yet not getting in and seeing the exhibition


By MIRJANA VASIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest celebrated its centennial by exhibiting the works of the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. This was the first complete exhibition of his works since the one held in Vienna in 1903. It was open from December 1, 2006 till March 20, 2007. Some of the most famous paintings of the Dutch painter were presented, such as Irises and Self portrait with the pipe. Although the visitors did not have the chance to see The Sunflowers and a self-portrait with the cut-off ear, they could see the works of painters who were his inspiration.

The exhibition was chronologically organized, following his work from the earliest stage, when his main theme was the life of the Dutch peasants and miners, using dark green colors, to the very end of his life. After Vincent had left for Paris, he had encountered for him a completely new stream in painting. Impressionism brings lighter colours to his palette and he abandons social themes. After Paris, Van Gogh leaves for Arles, on the south of France where he meets Gaugin and there he enters the most fruitful phase, the sun in its full range, meadows and fields of recognizable yellow and blue color. From Arles Van Gogh goes to Saint Ramie, and the themes of this period are olives, cypress trees, mountains and stars.

Although the exhibition was opened for more than three months, the line in front of the building did not shorten till the very end. Tickets had to be reserved, because the number of people that the museum could accept at the same time was much smaller than the number of people who wanted to see the exhibition. Those who did not reserve the tickets could find themselves in the situation of waiting in front of the museum for the whole day and yet not getting in and seeing the exhibition. This solely shows that his creative heritage is universal, the language and time barriers irrelevant and that there is only desire for its understanding.

However during his life Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) sold only one painting and his work was appreciated only by his brother Theo. Today his paintings are sold by the most famous auction houses for enormous amounts of money, and his art is unsurpassed. Vincent is one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century.

Van Gogh had put his heart and soul in his paintings. Today his name is recognizable all over the world, and also he grew into a symbol of artist of all times. He knew how to show his passion and emotions with the form and his unique yellow and blue color combination. Due to his dramatic life and unhappy decease he became the symbol of an artist rejected by his surrounding because they did not understand him. He died at the age of 37.