Van Gogh and His Inspirations

Van Gogh and His Inspirations is an original exhibition organized by the CMA that brings the work of one of the most beloved artists in the world to Columbia, South Carolina, alongside a variety of handpicked paintings and drawings that shaped his vision. From 2001 to 2010, as Steven Naifeh and Greg Smith researched their New York Times bestseller Van Gogh: The Life, they built a collection of over 30 works by artists who influenced Van Gogh’s aesthetic thinking. These works join loans from 12 museums across the U.S. to explore the artistic evolution of Van Gogh through the lens of the artists who inspired him.
This exhibition also brings 12 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh, including an outstanding painting of flower fields from the National Gallery of Art, a sensitive painting of a peasant weaving from The Boston Museum of Fine Art, and the world-famous self-portrait from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Side-by-side with their inspirations, these works offer visitors a window into the mind of Van Gogh.

Image: Vincent van Gogh, Flower Beds in Holland, oil on canvas on wood