Van Gogh’s Last Painting Site Declared Private

Van Gogh’s Last Painting Site Declared Private

Why in the News ?

A French Appeals Court has ruled that the site believed to be where Vincent van Gogh painted his final work and later died by suicide is private property, rejecting the local government’s claim that it belongs to the public.

Van Gogh's Last Painting Site Declared Private

About the Site, the Painting, and the Discovery:

  • The disputed spot is in Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris.
  • It is believed to be where Van Gogh painted “Tree Roots” (1890)—his last known artwork.
  • Art historian Wouter van der Veen identified the location in 2020, using old postcards and visual comparison.
  • The Van Gogh Museum supports this identification, noting the painting’s abstract forms match roots visible on the embankment.

The Legal Dispute

  • The Seringer couple bought the land in 2013, and began offering Van Gogh-themed tours in 2020.
  • Mayor Isabelle Mézires argued the land was public property, near a public road.
  • Both a lower court and the Appeals Court in Versailles ruled it to be private land.
  • Mézires has vowed to appeal again.

Van Gogh’s Final Days

  • Van Gogh moved to Auvers in May 1890 after release from a psychiatric facility.
  • He created over 80 artworks in two months.
  • On July 27, he sustained a gunshot wound, dying two days later.
  • Scholars view “Tree Roots” as his visual farewell.

About Vincent Van Gogh:

●      Dutch post-impressionist painter and influential figure in western art.

●      Created around 2,100 artworks, including paintings, drawings, and sketches.

●      Gained fame posthumously, not during his lifetime.

●      Struggled with mental illness, depression, and poverty.

●      Committed suicide at the age of 37.

●      Recently, his rare painting titled ‘Street Scene in Montmartre’ was displayed in public for the first time since its creation in 1887.

●      The painting reflects his time in Paris, showcasing a vibrant street scene influenced by the impressionist movement.