Van Gogh in the Netherlands 1

I have been to two Van Gogh exhibitions/museums during my visit in the Netherlands.

At first, we went to Kröller-Müller Museum which is located in the midst of the woods in the National Park De Hoge Veluwe. We have spent around 2 hrs taking both trains and bus to arrive there from Amsterdam. But I think it is totally worthwhile to go. The museum is named after Helen Kröller-Müller who was regarded as one of the first European women to hold a major art collection. 

Under the influence and guidance of her aesthetic advisor H.P. Bremmer, she decided that Van Gogh's work was the highest and purest art that could ever be experienced, she roamed dealers and auctions for 20 years (from 1908-1928) to acquire a representative selection of his works, both paintings and drawings. She ended up with an odd 90 paintings and 180 works on paper by the artist.

 

Unspoiled natural surroundings 

 (taken by my Dad) 

We have visited this exhibition which focuses the works from his time in France (1886-1890) when he reached maturity.

From the huge collection of Van Gogh's paintings, I have picked 2 as my favorites.
1. Country Road in Provence by Night (Road with Cypress and Star) 1890

Van Gogh has painted this painting with many similarities to Starry Night, he has painted the artwork with numerous distinct brush strokes that merge and form together as you move further away. When I looked at this painting, there was a sensual effect which lies beyond the visual experience. I could sense the two gentlemen are coming towards me, hear the carriage travelling on the road, feel the silence of the huge night sky. 

"I still have a cypress with a star from down there, a last attempt - a night sky with a moon without radiance, the slender crescent barely emerging from the opaque shadow cast by the earth - one star with an exaggerated brilliance, if you like, a soft brilliance of pink and green in the ultramarine sky, across which some clouds are hurrying. Below, a road bordered with tall yellow canes, behind these the blue Basses Alpes, an old inn with yellow lighted windows, and a very tall cypress, very straight, very sombre. 
On the road, a yellow cart with a white horse in harness, and two late wayfarers. Very romantic, if you like, but also Provence, I think." - 

Vincent van Gogh to Paul Gauguin. Auvers-sur-Oise. Jun 17, 1890. 

2. Terrace of a cafe at night 1888

Van Gogh once again wanted to explore the colour of night. The sky in this painting resembles The Starry Night, but this time he portrayed the sublime nature of the sky. The sky is illuminated by artificial gas lanterns of the partially depicted exterior of a Parisian cafe, which is the focus of this painting. There is a waitress serving the guests while some passerbys taking a stroll under the starry sky. Van Gogh seeks to communicate his emotions and feelings through the entire piece. A strong sense of sublime feeling on such a perfect night is created by his radiant colours and sharp contrasts.

I admire his skills in painting the paving stones of the road. The pinkish violet tone of those stones could only be reflected under the darkness in the night time.

'Here you have a nocturne without any black, only beautiful blue, violet and green and in these surroundings the lighted square acquires a pale sulphur yellow'

Van Gogh note to his sister will