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My Van Gogh Journey
“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
On the Road
One idea you’ll see me come back to often: Vincent van Gogh is a gateway... to the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists, and to art more broadly. I’ve found that to be absolutely true. I’m just wrapping up a five-day stay in Washington, DC. DC is always a great opportunity to revisit Van Gogh at the National Gallery of Art, The Phillips Collection, and The Kreeger Museum. More on this trip soon.
— George April 12, 2026
Photos from My Journey
My journey to better understand Vincent van Gogh’s life and art has taken me from Amsterdam and Otterlo to Paris, and to museums across the United States.
Here are a few photos and images of art seen on my travels.
As I continue to build out my site, I will add pages for each of the previous viewing trips.
Almond Blossom - Vincent van Gogh (February 1890)
This painting was a gift from Vincent to his brother Theo and wife Jo on the occasion of the birth of their child. Theo and Jo sacrificed much to help Vincent. They also named their newborn Vincent Willem. I'll share more about this painting in a future blog post. Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, February 1890 oil on canvas, 73.3 cm x 92.4 cm Credits: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
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Green Wheat Fields, Auvers (1890)
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC has become an annual pilgrimage. The staff are amazing and very helpful. Green Wheat Fields, Auvers (1890) by Vincent van Gogh is a celebrated oil painting held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.. It was part of the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon before becoming part of the museum's permanent collection in 2013.
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George at The Art Institute of Chicago
I was born in Chicago, but left at a very young age and had not returned for a substantial trip until 2024. And yes, the occasion was a Van Gogh exhibit at The Art Institute of Chicago.
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Houses and Figure, (1890) Vincent van Gogh
This painting caught me off guard. The color and composition had me staring for what seemed like hours. The painting is also known as "Thatched Cottages in the Sunshine." The subject of an upcoming blog post -- why do paintings have such different names over time? lol.
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George at The Philadelphia Museum of Art
In December 2025, I was added two more museums and multiple Van Gogh paintings to the list. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is home to 12 works of art by Van Gogh. In this photo, I'm nestled between "Sunflowers" (1889) and "Still Life with a Bouquet of Daisies" (1885).
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The Postman (Joseph-Étienne Roulin) (1889)
One of six portraits of Joseph-Étienne Roulin, Van Gogh's postman in Arles. I've seen this image at The Barnes Foundation and another at the Kröller-M üller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands. Both are stunning.
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Self-Portrait, Vincent Van Gogh (1889)
The painting that started it all. Check out my first blog post to see how this journey began with this captivating painting. Vincent van Gogh Portrait de l'artiste 1889 huile sur toile H. 65,0 ; L. 54,2 cm. Don Paul et Marguerite Gachet, 1949 © GrandPalaisRmn (musée d'Orsay) / Adrien Didierjean
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Self-Portrait (1887) Vincent van Gogh
Saw this while in Chicago in 2024. One of 36 known self-portraits by Van Gogh. This was painted while Van Gogh was in Paris and inspired by other Impressionist of the day, including Seurat.
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Starry Night Over the Rhône
This was among the first Van Gogh paintings I saw in person, 2014 in Paris. The painting was on loan in 2024 on my return trip to Paris. I look forward to seeing it again someday. Vincent van Gogh La Nuit étoilée Starry Night Over the Rhône 1888 huile sur toile H. 73,0 ; L. 92,0 cm. Donation sous réserve d'usufruit M. et Mme Robert Kahn-Sriber, en souvenir de M. et Mme Fernand Moch, 1975 © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d’Orsay) / Adrien Didierjean
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On the Shelf
The journey to understand Van Gogh and his works isn't just about standing in front of his works. It's also shaped by the books that interpret his life, letters, relationships, and artistic evolution.
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