Olive Grove
Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, November-December 1889
oil on canvas, 73.2 cm x 92.2 cm
Credits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
The olive groves around Saint-Rémy were a rewarding subject for Van Gogh. He was fascinated by the ever-changing colour of the olive trees and tried to find a good way of painting their irregular growth. His solution was to use swirling brushstrokes, bold outlines around the trunks and stylized blue shadows.
Van Gogh made his paintings of olive groves just after his friends Paul Gauguin and Émile Bernard had painted a number of religious scenes. They created those works from their imaginations. Van Gogh disagreed with that approach. He felt that reality should always be the starting point: 'My ambition is truly limited to a few clods of earth, some sprouting wheat. An olive grove,' he wrote to Bernard.
- F-number
- F0707
- JH-number
- JH1857
- Object number
- s0045V1962
- Dimensions
- 73.2 cm x 92.2 cm, 88.9 cm x 108.1 cm
- Provenance
- Sent by the artist from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to his brother Theo van Gogh, Paris, at the beginning of January 1890; after his death on 25 January 1891, inherited by his widow, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, and their son, Vincent Willem van Gogh, Paris; administered until her death on 2 September 1925 by Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Bussum/Amsterdam/Laren; given on loan by Vincent Willem van Gogh, Laren to the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, from 1927 to 1930; given on loan by Vincent Willem van Gogh to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, since 22 October 1931; transferred by Vincent Willem van Gogh, Laren, on 10 July 1962 to the Vincent van Gogh Foundation, Amsterdam (ratified 28 December 1970); agreement concluded between the Vincent van Gogh Foundation and the State of the Netherlands, in which the preservation and management of the collection, and its placing in the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, to be realized in Amsterdam, is entrusted to the State, 21 July 1962; given on loan until the opening of the museum on 2 June 1973 to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; on permanent loan to the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh from 2 June 1973 and at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, since 1 July 1994.
- artist
- Vincent van Gogh
- Credits (obliged to state)
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Groningen, Groninger Museum, Hoe Van Gogh naar het Noorden kwam, 1 October 2024 - 20 January 2025
Minneapolis, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Van Gogh and the Olive Groves, 25 June 2022 - 18 September 2022
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en de olijfgaarden, 11 March 2022 - 12 June 2022, no. 11
Dallas Museum of Art, Van Gogh and the Olive Groves, 17 October 2021 - 6 February 2022, no. 11
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Munch : Van Gogh, 24 September 2015 - 17 January 2016
Oslo, Munch Museum, Van Gogh + Munch, 9 May 2015 - 6 September 2015
Copenhagen, Ordrupgaard Museum, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Bernard. Dramaet i Arles, 7 February 2014 - 22 June 2014
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh aan het werk, 1 May 2013 - 13 January 2014
Amsterdam, Hermitage Amsterdam, Vincent. Het Van Gogh Museum in de Hermitage Amsterdam, 29 September 2012 - 25 April 2013
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Goghs brieven. De kunstenaar aan het woord, 9 October 2009 - 3 January 2010
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh & Bernard: een kunstenaarsvriendschap, 26 October 2007 - 27 January 2008
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en Rembrandt, 24 February 2006 - 28 June 2006
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Gogh Modern. Vincent van Gogh and contemporary art, 27 June 2003 - 12 October 2003, no. zonder nr.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, De keuze van Vincent. Van Goghs Musée imaginaire, 14 February 2003 - 15 June 2003
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Van Gogh te gast in het Rijksmuseum. Meesterwerken van het Van Gogh Museum, 19 September 1998 - 2 May 1999
Tokyo, Seiji Togo Memorial Yasuda Kasai Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh and his time. Four seasons from the Van Gogh Museum and the H.W. Mesdag Museum, 12 September 1997 - 11 November 1997, no. 10
Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Vincent van Gogh and Japan, 4 April 1992 - 24 May 1992
Kyoto, National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), Vincent van Gogh and Japan, 18 February 1992 - 29 March 1992
Glasgow, Burrell Collection, The Age of Van Gogh. Dutch Painting 1880-1895, 10 November 1990 - 10 February 1991
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Vincent van Gogh. Schilderijen, 30 March 1990 - 29 July 1990, no. 108
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Van Gogh in St. Rémy and Auvers, 12 November 1986 - 22 March 1987, no. 43
Tokyo, Seibu Museum of Art, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 29 March 1986 - 13 May 1986
Amagasaki, Tsukashin Hall, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 21 February 1986 - 23 March 1986
Shimonoseki, Shimonoseki City Art Museum, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 4 January 1986 - 11 February 1986
Iwaki, Iwaki City Art Museum, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 16 November 1985 - 22 December 1985
Niigata, Niigata City Art Museum, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 13 October 1985 - 10 November 1985
Nagoya, The Aichi Prefectural Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 24 February 1977 - 14 March 1977
Kyoto, National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 6 January 1977 - 20 February 1977
Tokyo, National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo), Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 30 October 1976 - 19 December 1976
Bern, Kunstmuseum Bern, Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 25 January 1973 - 15 April 1973, no. 38
Strasbourg, Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain Strasbourg, Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 22 October 1972 - 15 January 1973
Munich, Haus der Kunst, Weltkulturen und moderne Kunst, 16 June 1972 - 30 September 1972
Paris, Orangerie des Tuileries, Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 21 December 1971 - 10 April 1972
New York, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 14 February 1971 - 4 April 1971, no. 57
San Francisco, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 11 December 1970 - 31 January 1971, no. 57
Baltimore, Baltimore Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 11 October 1970 - 29 November 1970, no. 57
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 28 February 1970 - 5 April 1970
Saint Louis, City Art Museum of Saint Louis, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 20 December 1969 - 1 February 1970
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 14 October 1969 - 1 December 1969
London, Hayward Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings of the Vincent van Gogh Foundation Amsterdam, 23 October 1968 - 12 January 1969, no. 176
Ostend, Musée des beaux-arts (Oostende), Europa 1900, 3 June 1967 - 30 September 1967, no. 401
Gothenburg, Göteborgs Konstmuseum, Vincent van Gogh. Målningar, akvareller, teckningar, 30 December 1965 - 20 February 1966, no. 46
Stockholm, Moderna Museet, Vincent van Gogh. Målningar, akvareller, teckningar, 23 October 1965 - 19 December 1965, no. 46
Mons, Museum voor Schoone Kunsten, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Son art et ses amis, 22 March 1958 - 5 May 1958
Schiedam, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Vincent van Gogh, 21 December 1957 - 27 January 1958
Leiden, Museum De Lakenhal, Vincent van Gogh, 9 November 1957 - 16 December 1957
Fries Museum, Vincent van Gogh uit de collectie Ir. V.W. van Gogh, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 14 April 1956 - 13 May 1956
Newcastle upon Tyne, Laing Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 11 February 1956 - 24 March 1956, no. 69
Manchester (England), Manchester City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 17 December 1955 - 4 February 1956, no. 69
Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 29 October 1955 - 10 December 1955, no. 69
Antwerp, Zaal Comité voor Artistieke Werking, Vincent van Gogh, 7 May 1955 - 19 June 1955, no. 301
Bern, Kunstmuseum Bern, Vincent van Gogh, 27 November 1954 - 30 January 1955, no. 59
Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vincent van Gogh, 9 October 1954 - 21 November 1954, no. 61
Assen, Provinciehuis, Vincent van Gogh in Assen, 7 November 1953 - 29 November 1953
IJmuiden, Hoogovens, restaurant Walserij Oost, Vincent van Gogh. Exposition in the canteens of the Royal Netherlands Blast Furnaces and Steelworks, 2 October 1953 - 12 October 1953
Hoensbroek, Kasteel Hoensbroek, Vincent van Gogh, 23 May 1953 - 27 July 1953
Zundert, Parochiehuis, Vincent van Gogh in Zundert, 30 March 1953 - 20 April 1953
Eindhoven, Van Abbemuseum, Vincent van Gogh, 22 March 1952 - 4 May 1952
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Hôtel de Sade, Vincent van Gogh en Provence, 5 May 1951 - 27 May 1951, no. 63
Grenoble, Musée de Grenoble, Vincent van Gogh, 30 March 1951 - 2 May 1951
Lyon, Musée de Lyon, Vincent van Gogh, 5 February 1951 - 27 March 1951, no. 63
Middelburg, Kunstmuseum Middelburg, Van Gogh-tentoonstelling, 9 April 1949 - 1 May 1949
The Hague, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Vincent van Gogh. Collectie ir. V.W. van Gogh, 12 October 1948 - 10 January 1949
Oslo, Kunstnernes Hus, Vincent van Gogh, 24 April 1948 - 15 May 1948, no. 47
Bergen (Norway), Kunstforening, Vincent van Gogh, 23 March 1948 - 18 April 1948, no. 47
Glasgow, City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 21 February 1948 - 14 March 1948, no. 73
City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 24 January 1948 - 14 February 1948, no. 73
London, Tate Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 10 December 1947 - 14 January 1948, no. 73
Groningen, Museum van Oudheden, Vincent van Gogh, 18 October 1947 - 16 November 1947
Amsterdam, E.J. van Wisselingh & Co, Exposition de peinture, 17 December 1945 - 26 January 1946, no. 13
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Vincent van Gogh. Werken uit de verzameling van Ir. V.W. van Gogh, in bruikleen afgestaan aan de Gemeente Amsterdam, 14 February 1931 - 1 January 1931
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Vincent van Gogh en zijn tijdgenooten, 6 September 1930 - 2 November 1930, no. 100
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Vincent van Gogh. L'Époque Française, 20 June 1927 - 2 July 1927
Munich, Glaspalast, I. Allgemeine Kunst-Ausstellung, 1 June 1926 - 3 October 1926, no. 2079
The Hague, Pulchri Studio, Tentoonstelling Vincent van Gogh, 21 March 1925 - 26 April 1925, no. 7
Paris, Galerie Marcel Bernheim, Exposition rétrospective d'oeuvres de Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), 5 January 1925 - 24 January 1925, no. 33
Stuttgart, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Ausstellung Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, 12 October 1924 - 30 November 1924, no. 25
Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vincent van Gogh, 3 July 1924 - 10 August 1924, no. 54
Basel, Kunsthalle Basel, Vincent van Gogh, 27 March 1924 - 4 May 1924, no. 44
London, Leicester Galleries, Works by Vincent van Gogh, 1 December 1923 - 15 January 1924, no. 34
New York, Montross Gallery, Vincent van Gogh Exhibition, 23 October 1920 - 31 December 1920, no. 49
Utrecht, Vereeniging Voor de Kunst, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen en teekeningen van Vincent van Gogh, 13 March 1901 - 24 March 1901
The Hague, Arts and Crafts Art Gallery, Exhibition of the paintings. Vincent van Gogh in the art-gallery Arts and Crafts, 17 October 1898 - 1 December 1898
Joan E. Greer, A modern Gethsemane : Vincent van Gogh's Olive grove, p. 106-117
ed. Richard Bionda, Carel Blotkamp ; Rieta Bergsma, Enno Endt, Sanne van Smoorenburg, The age of Van Gogh : dutch painting 1880-1895, 1990, p. 144
Ed. by Susan Alyson Stein, Asher Ethan Miller ; Colin B. Bailey ... [et al.], The Annenberg Collection : masterpieces of impressionism and post-impressionism, 2009, p. 212, 216
Joan Eileen Greer, The artist as Christ : the image of the artist in The Netherlands, 1885-1902, with a focus on the christological imagery of Vincent van Gogh and Johan Thorn Prikker, 2000, p. 135
Samengesteld door W. Steenhoff, Catalogus Vincent van Gogh : werken uit de verzameling van Ir. V.W. van Gogh, in bruikleen afgestaan aan de Gemeente Amsterdam, 1931, p. 36
Text: Esther Darley, Renske Suijver, Masterpieces in the Van Gogh Museum, 2019, p. 132-133
Tekst: Esther Darley, Renske Suijver, Meesterwerken in het Van Gogh Museum, 2019, p. 132-133
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Ed. by E. van Uitert and M. Hoyle; with contrib. from H. van Crimpen ... [et al.], The Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, 1987, p. 274-275, 346
red. Richard Bionda, Carel Blotkamp : Rieta Bergsma...[et al.], De schilders van Tachtig : nederlandse schilderkunst 1880-1895, 1991, p. 169
Martin Bailey, Starry night : Van Gogh at the asylum, 2018, p. 102-103
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Ed. by Cornelia Homburg ; Anabelle Kienle, Joseph J. Rishel, Jennifer A. Thompson ; with contributions by Rakhee Balaram, Noelle C. Paulson, Ulrich Pohlmann ... [et al.], Van Gogh : up close, 2012, p. 261, 264
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[pref. John Leighton], Vincent van Gogh and his time. Four seasons from the Van Gogh Museum and the H.W. Mesdag Museum, 1997, p. 60-61
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Ed. by Nienke Bakker, Nicole R. Myers ; with essays Teio Meedendorp, Kathrin Pilz en Muriel Geldof, Van Gogh and the olive groves, 2021, p. 22, 29, 39, 41, 50-51, 54-55, 134, 62-64, 66-69, 121, 131, 134, 136-141, 149, 158-159
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Painted outdoors or indoors?
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Let's take a moment to just be with Vincent van Gogh's painting ‘Olive Grove’ in a 7-minute meditation.
