Two great Vincent van Gogh collections exist side by side in Holland. How is that possible? This is the story of two great collectors and collections:
The first, visionary one is Helene Muller, born 1869, who married the wealthy industrialist, mr Kroller and thus, by Dutch custom, was named ms. Kroller-Muller. As the couple were incredibly wealthy they bought a vast hunting area and built themselves a luxurious villa-cum-hunting lodge and made detailed plans for a major museum on their property in order to house the modern art collection amassed by Helene. With almost unlimited funds, an impeccable taste and mr Bremmer as the main art advisor next to her, she had started to buy works by Juan Gris, Piet Mondian and many other names of artists now internationally famous. Those works of art were still affordable in those days.
Then the economic crash of 1933 came and their business capital evaporated. With foresight, the Dutch state took over the land and the art collections and supported the construction of the small museum to house the grand collection, and then opened up the museum and wildlife park to the public as a celebration of the interplay between Nature & Art. Subsequent directors added new wings and designed and filled a vast sculpture park which is almost unequaled in the world. A visit to the park is a treat. One needs a car to get there, out in the middle of nowhere.
The other collector, Theo van Gogh, is known worldwide as the brother who floated Vincent. During his lifetime, Vincent van Gogh was so way ahead of the market that he managed to sell just one or two paintings. All of the other works he painted ended up with his brother Theo, who considered the paintings sent by Vincent to Theo as a fair exchange for the continuous flow of money from Theo to Vincent. Theo also wanted Vincent to befriend the circle of modern (Impressionist) painters in Paris to exchange paintings as a basis for an art gallery for modern art, envisioned by Theo. That business venture never was realized because of his untimely death.
Theo died just one year after Vincent and Theo's widow started a PR campaign to make Vincents' name famous throughout the world. She wrote to art dealers and sent paintings to be exhibited and sold worldwide. And she started publishing the famous volumes of letters by Vincent. The sandwich of the two: Art & Letters had made Vincent the first artist in the world who can be followed in life and career and art almost from week to week.
Paintings by Vincent van Gogh subsequently sold all over the world by Theo's widow how shine as ambassadors of an incredible artists life and artistic genius. One may also go to the MOMA, NYC and see Starry Night, and in London one sees the wonderful Sunflowers.
These works of art by Vincent and his contemporaries from the family collection are now beautifully exhibited in Amsterdam, for the Dutch State came to terms with the Van Gogh family to erect a building and to take care of the staffing and running cost. Added to this core collection are the works of art which inspired Vincent and which are often mentioned in letters from Vincent to Theo. Also subsequently collected are works by painters such as German Expressionists and Dutch Expressionists who championed Vincent. They dared to go where no man had ventured before.
(A little note on how to pronounce his name in Dutch: South of the great rivers, where he was born, the 'g' is soft and aspirated. North of these rivers, where he also lived and worked as a young man the 'g' is hard, almost Scottish, like noisily clearing the back of a throat.)
Biography.
Art historian has published widely and has a great capacity to share with others his deep passion for art history while sharing ways of heightened perception.
With a bit of luck, I can take you to both places, Amsterdam and Otterlo, and give you a fascinating and riveting on-the-spot lecture on history, art history and art appreciation. As an art specialist I can stand next to you and we will see what knowledge and passion may yield. In order to really "get it", it may take a specialist to learn how to fully see and appreciate. I am that kind of docent art historian.
http://kalden.home.xs4all.nl/verm/tour-k-krollermullerENG.html
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