Olive Grove
Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, November 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, 8.5 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)
Ōsaka, Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, Van Gogh’s Home, the Van Gogh Museum: The Painter, The Family, The Legacy (working title)
Groningen (city), Groninger Museum, Hoe Van Gogh naar Groningen kwam, 30 November 2024-5 May 2025, no. 5.4
Minneapolis, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Van Gogh and the Olive Groves, 25 June-18 September 2022, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en de olijfgaarden, 11 March-12 June 2022, no. 11
Dallas, 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, no. 35
Oslo, Munch Museum, Van Gogh + Munch, 9 May-6 September 2015, no. 35
Copenhagen, Ordrupgaard Museum, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Bernard. Dramaet i Arles, 7 February-22 June 2014, no. 152
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh aan het werk, 1 May 2013-13 January 2014, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Amsterdam, Hermitage Amsterdam, Vincent. Het Van Gogh Museum in de Hermitage Amsterdam, 29 September 2012-25 April 2013, no. 132
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Goghs brieven. De kunstenaar aan het woord, 9 October 2009-3 January 2010, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh & Bernard: een kunstenaarsvriendschap, 26 October 2007-27 January 2008, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Van Gogh en Rembrandt, 24 February-28 June 2006, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, Gogh Modern. Vincent van Gogh en de hedendaagse kunst, 27 June-12 October 2003, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, De keuze van Vincent. Van Goghs Musée imaginaire, 14 February-15 June 2003, no. 15
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Van Gogh te gast in het Rijksmuseum. Meesterwerken van het Van Gogh Museum, 19 September 1998-2 May 1999, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
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-11 November 1997, no. 10
Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Vincent van Gogh and Japan, 4 April-24 May 1992, no. 25
Kyoto, National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), Vincent van Gogh and Japan, 18 February-29 March 1992, no. 25
Glasgow, Burrell Collection, The Age of Van Gogh. Dutch Painting 1880-1895, 10 November 1990-10 February 1991, no. 34
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Vincent van Gogh. Schilderijen, 30 March-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-13 May 1986, no. 6
Amagasaki, Tsukashin Hall, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 21 February-23 March 1986, no. 6
Shimonoseki, Shimonoseki City Art Museum, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 4 January-11 February 1986, no. 6
Iwaki, Iwaki City Art Museum, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 16 November-22 December 1985, no. 6
Niigata, Niigata City Art Museum, 100 years of Dutch painting : highlights from the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 13 October-10 November 1985, no. 6
Nagoya, Aichi Prefectural Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 24 February-14 March 1977, no. 78
Kyoto, National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 6 January-20 February 1977, no. 78
Tokyo, National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo), Vincent van Gogh exhibition, 30 October-19 December 1976, no. 78
Bern, Kunstmuseum (Bern), Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 25 January-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, no. 38
Munich, Haus der Kunst, Weltkulturen und moderne Kunst, 16 June-30 September 1972, no. 976
Paris, Musée de l'Orangerie, Vincent van Gogh. Collection du Musée National Vincent van Gogh à Amsterdam, 21 December 1971-10 April 1972, no. 93
New York, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 14 February-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 (Maryland), Baltimore Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 11 October-29 November 1970, no. 57
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 28 February-5 April 1970, no. 57
Saint Louis, City Art Museum of Saint Louis, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 20 December 1969-1 February 1970, no. 57
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings and Drawings, 14 October-1 December 1969, no. 57
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-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-19 December 1965, no. 46
Mons, Museum voor Schoone Kunsten, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Son art et ses amis, 22 March-5 May 1958, no. 40
Schiedam, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Vincent van Gogh, 21 December 1957-27 January 1958, no. 37
Leiden, Museum De Lakenhal, Vincent van Gogh, 9 November-16 December 1957, no. 37
Leeuwarden, Fries Museum, Vincent van Gogh uit de collectie Ir. V.W. van Gogh, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 14 April-13 May 1956, no. 34
Newcastle upon Tyne, Laing Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh. Paintings & Drawings, Mainly from the Collection of Ir. V.W. van Gogh, 11 February-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-10 December 1955, no. 69
Antwerp, Feestzaal Antwerpen, Vincent van Gogh, 7 May-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-21 November 1954, no. 61
Assen, Provinciehuis, Vincent van Gogh in Assen, 7-29 November 1953, no. 25
IJmuiden, Hoogovens, restaurant Walserij Oost, Vincent van Gogh. Exposition in the canteens of the Royal Netherlands Blast Furnaces and Steelworks, 2-12 October 1953, no. 32
Hoensbroek, Kasteel Hoensbroek, Vincent van Gogh, 23 May-27 July 1953, no. 51
Zundert, Parochiehuis, Vincent van Gogh in Zundert, 30 March-20 April 1953, no. 31
Eindhoven, Van Abbemuseum, Vincent van Gogh, 22 March-4 May 1952, no. 60
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Hôtel de Sade, Vincent van Gogh en Provence, 5-27 May 1951, no. 63
Grenoble, Musée de Grenoble, Vincent van Gogh, 30 March-2 May 1951, no. 63
Lyon, Musée de Lyon, Vincent van Gogh, 5 February-27 March 1951, no. 63
Middelburg, Kunstmuseum Middelburg, Van Gogh-tentoonstelling, 9 April-1 May 1949, no. 40
The Hague, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Vincent van Gogh. Collectie ir. V.W. van Gogh, 12 October 1948-10 January 1949, no. 160
Oslo, Kunstnernes Hus, Vincent van Gogh, 24 April-15 May 1948, no. 48
Bergen (Norway), Kunstforening, Vincent van Gogh, 23 March-18 April 1948, no. 48
Glasgow, City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 21 February-14 March 1948, no. 73
Birmingham (England), City Art Gallery, Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890. An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, 24 January-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 (city), Museum van Oudheden, Vincent van Gogh, 18 October-16 November 1947, no. 90
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 1931-1931, no. 85
Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Vincent van Gogh en zijn tijdgenooten, 6 September-2 November 1930, no. 100
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Vincent van Gogh. L'Époque Française, 20 June-2 July 1927, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
Munich, Glaspalast, I. Allgemeine Kunst-Ausstellung, 1 June-3 October 1926, no. 2079
The Hague, Pulchri Studio, Tentoonstelling Vincent van Gogh, 21 March-26 April 1925, no. 7
Paris, Galerie Marcel Bernheim, Exposition rétrospective d'oeuvres de Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), 5-24 January 1925, no. 33
Stuttgart, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Ausstellung Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890, 12 October-30 November 1924, no. 25
Zurich, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vincent van Gogh, 3 July-10 August 1924, no. 54
Basel, Kunsthalle Basel, Vincent van Gogh, 27 March-4 May 1924, no. 44
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New York, Montross Gallery, Vincent van Gogh Exhibition, 23 October-31 December 1920, no. 49
Utrecht (city), Vereeniging Voor de Kunst, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen en teekeningen van Vincent van Gogh, 13-24 March 1901, no. geen catnr. / no cat. no.
The Hague, Arts and Crafts, John Th. Uiterwijk & Co., Exhibition of the paintings. Vincent van Gogh in the art-gallery Arts and Crafts, 17 October-December 1898, no. Olives
Luijten, Hans, Richards, L., Jo van Gogh-Bonger : The woman who made Vincent famous, London, 2023, p. 153
Bakker, Nienke, Meedendorp, Teio, Tilborgh, Louis van, Van Gogh en de olijfgaarden, Amsterdam, 2022, pp. 22, 64, 76-77, 82, 95, 98, 121, 126
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Bailey, Martin, Starry night : Van Gogh at the asylum, London, 2018, p. 102-103
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