Museum Receives Gift of van Gogh Painting
The Portland Art Museum received a major gift of an original 1884 canvas, The Ox-Cart (Charrette de bouf), by Vincent van Gogh. Fred and Frances Sohn of Roseburg, Ore. donated the painting for the benefit of future generations.
According to Chief Curator Bruce Guenther, the Museum could never afford to purchase a work of this significance. This gift adds invaluable fresh insights into the birth of Modernism to the Museum’s collection.
Painted in Nuenen, The Netherlands, early in van Gogh’s career, The Ox-Cart is part of his exploration of peasant life. The dark palette of the work during this period is a sharp contrast to his later work produced in southern France, where he was inspired by the bright colors of the region.
Van Gogh’s visual expression of emotions through color and the physicality of the brushstrokes has redefined art-making practices and influenced generations of artists.
The Ox-Cart is installed on the first floor of the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art, in conjunction with the Museum’s Impressionist and School of Paris early modernist works.
Posted: Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 | 
Museum Update
