"I have sacrificed everything for style, because I wished
to force myself into doing something other. than what I
know how to do."
Gauguin to a friend, 8 October 1888
 

September 22, 2001-January 13, 2002
 
 Van Gogh and Gauguin: The studio of the South
has been organized by The Art Institute of
Chicago and the Van Gogh Museum,Amsterdam.
This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from
the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

 
The Studio of the South
review by Ed Vincent
 
The show has marvelous examples of impressionistic art
from some of the worlds best museum paintings, and from
two of impressionist's stalwart creators.  Vincent Van Gogh
and Paul Gauguin were two men who worked together, fought,
worked together, disagreed, worked together, separated and
still admired much of one another to their last days on
earth.   The show has 150 works on display.  There are 130
paintings, 16 drawings, and 9 ceramic works of art.  The
history of modern art is replete with the happenings at
Arles, France in 1888 and this show is a treasure of the
period.  You can see how these two painters viewed the
same scene, in painting done at the same time by the two
painters.  Gauguin in some cases was more idealistic in
his representations, leaving out smoke stacks from factories
that appeared in the background.  Van Gogh would include
the factories in the scene and do so quickly, without the
detail Gauguin would do.  This is a wonderful show and has
been sold out on many a day.  I would suggest calling,
buying tickets before the event day, or going on a slower
day.  It might also make good sense to get a membership to
the museum and then get two free tickets.

There is much history here and to see it in person is something
that should not be missed.  One of Gauguin's last paintings
done in the South Pacific had the sunflowers of Van Gogh in
it.  Van Gogh painted 72 paintings in the last two months of
his life.  There was a lust for life here, a love of color,
and a spirit in art and life that is wonderful to see and
remember.  I would also highly recommend the audio tour, which
is very informative and easy to use at your own pace.
 
 

 
TICKETS
 
Free Member Tickets to Van Gogh and Gauguin are available at
the museum, online, or by calling (312) 575-8000.

Group Tickets will be available by phone

Student Tickets Call (312)443-3679
 
 
General Public Tickets are $10 for Tuesdays, $20 for all
other days.
 
There is a $5 discount on tickets for Sunday evenings
after 4:00,
 
Wednesdays, and Thursdays, purchased at the museum
or by phone.
 
Residents of the City of Chicago receive a discount
on tickets purchased at the museum for days other
than Sundays evenings, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.

 
There are four ways public tickets may be ordered:
 
1. At the museum
 
Tickets may be purchased at the Art Institute during
regular museum hours with cash, travelers check, or
credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express,
and Discover).

Personal checks will not be accepted. An audio tour
can be ordered and pre-paid at $6.00 with each ticket
purchased.
 
2. By phone
 
You may purchase tickets by calling (312) 930-4040
from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00p.m. Monday through Friday;
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday; and 8:00 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m. Sunday (CST).

There is a $4 convenience fee for each ticket
purchased by phone and a $2.50 handling fee per order.
Tickets may be mailed to you or will be available at
the Will Call window depending on the date of your
order. Callers may also order and pre-pay for the audio
tour when purchasing tickets.
 
3. On the Internet
 
Tickets may be purchased online daily from 8:00 a.m.
to midnight (CT). There is a $4 convenience fee for
each ticket purchased online and a $2.50 handling fee
per order. Tickets purchased online will be mailed to
you or will be available at the Will Call window
depending on the date of your order. The audio tour
may be ordered and pre-paid when purchasing tickets.

4. At Ticketmaster Ticket Centers in Illinois
 
Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster ticket centers
in Illinois with cash or credit card (Visa, Mastercard,
American Express, and Discover).

Personal checks will not be accepted. There is a $3.50
per ticket convenience fee for each ticket purchased
at a ticket center. The audio tour may be ordered and
pre-paid when purchasing tickets.
 

Van Gogh's " The Starry Night over the Rhone"
1888 Musee d Orsay Paris
 

"Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to
disregard public opinion."
Van Gogh to his brother, 5 April 1885
 
 

Van Gogh's "The Starry Night"
1889 Museum Modern Art New York
 

Paul Gauguin's "Self Portrait for Vincent Van Gogh"
1888 Harvard University

"It is the face of an outlaw, with an inner nobility and
gentleness.... The eyes accented by the surrounding colors of
a furnace-fire to represent the volcanic flames that animate
the soul of the artist."
Gauguin to van Gogh, c. 2 October 1888
 

Van Gogh's "Self Portrait for Gauguin"
1888 Harvard University

"I've a portrait of myself. . . . But exaggerating my own
personality as well, I instead looked for the character of a bonze,
a simple worshiper of the eternal Buddha."
Van Gogh to Gauguin, 3 October 1888
 

Van Gogh's  "Sunflowers"
1889 Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

"If others can claim the peony and the hollyhock,
then surely I, above all others, can lay claim to the sunflower."
Van Gogh to Gauguin, c. 22 January 1889
 

Paul Gauguin's "Sunflowers on an Armchair"
1901 St Hermitage Museum St Petersburg

One of Gauguin's last paintings done in the South Pacific
had the sunflowers of Van Gogh in it.