We have some exciting news to share from the art world, which some of you may already be aware of. From October 3rd, 2023 to February 4th, 2024, the prestigious Musée d'Orsay in Paris will host a landmark exhibition dedicated to the remarkable works of Vincent van Gogh during the final phase of his life.

The big glass clock inside the Musee D'Orsay in Paris. There are people standing in front of it looking through the glass.
The big clock inside the Musée d'Orsay in Paris
©

Pixabay CC0

Set against the backdrop of Auvers-sur-Oise, a picturesque town near Paris, this exhibition marks the first-ever comprehensive exploration of this pivotal and extraordinarily prolific period in the artist's career, unveiling his final evolution as an artist.

View through an oval shaped window in a staircase leading up to van Gogh's attic room in Auvers-sur-Oise
A staircase window leading up to van Gogh's attic room in Auvers-sur-Oise
©

John Kolter, CC-BY 2.5

Following a period of deep struggle and crisis in Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Van Gogh moved nearer to Paris and his supportive brother, Théo, arriving in Auvers-sur-Oise on May 20th, 1890. He was drawn to the picturesque town of Auvers-sur-Oise by Dr. Gachet, a renowned physician specializing in the treatment of ‘melancholia’ (a type of depression). Dr. Gachet was also an avid art collector, an amateur painter himself, and a friend of the Impressionists.

A portrait painting of van Gogh's Doctor Gachet
Van Gogh's Dr. Gachet
©

Wikipedia, Public Domain

Van Gogh took up residence at the Ragout Inn in the heart of the village, immersing himself in his beautiful new environment, all while grappling with the challenges of his mental health, his relationship with his brother, and navigating the art world and trying to find his place in it.

His time there was tragically cut short by his death on July 29th. However, these two months were transformative for the artist, characterized by a surge of creative energy and the production of more than 30 drawings and sketches and 74 paintings, including some of his most celebrated masterpieces: ‘The Church at Auvers-sur-Oise’, ‘Wheatfield with Crows’ and ‘Doctor Paul Gachet’ (his doctor). The exhibition will showcase approximately 40 paintings and 20 drawings from this period.

A painting by van Gogh of the Church at Auvers-sur-Oise
Van Gogh's painting of The Church at Auvers-sur-Oise
©

Wikipedia, Public Domain

The curated selection will be organized thematically, including landscapes featuring the village, portraits, still lifes, and evocative depictions of the surrounding countryside. Notably, visitors will be able to see a series of van Gogh’s paintings presented in an elongated double-square format, a unique and captivating feature of van Gogh's work.

If you would like more information about visiting the exhibition at the Orsay Museum during your trip to Paris, you may visit the museum’s website, or if you’re traveling with us, let us know and we will book tickets for you as part of your itinerary.

If you're interested in visiting Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to admire some of the scenery that van Gogh painted during the last years of his life, we can include these in any of our Provence tours.

France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

5.0
Ricki & Craig
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We …
David
Emilie was a joy to work with - we were completely pleased with our experience! Do not hesitate to use her services - she will do everything to make your trip perfect. We don't care for group/bus "one-size-fits-all" type of tours - but I didn't feel confident enough with my grasp of French to go it alone. France Just For You is the perfect solution …
Sharon & Bob
We couldn't recommend France Just For You highly enough. After visiting various parts of Europe on our own we were delighted to have someone else attend to all the details. Emilie was a joy to work with and couldn't have chosen better B&B's, tours and day trips to meet our needs. I can't wait to call upon her services again!
Jenifer
When planning my 60th birthday celebration, my sister and I stumbled upon France Just For You, which saved us from the potential nightmare of traveling with 40 strangers on a bus. As a result, my sister and I, along with our husbands, experienced a trip of a lifetime! From the beginning, Emilie was extraordinarily responsive, informative, and more …
Sue
This was our first trip to Europe with just the two of us doing all the planning. I was looking for someone to help with the details of lodging and transportation and found Emilie through this site. She planned an incredible trip for us to Normandy/Brittany, Loire Valley and Paris. She is easy to work with, responsive and organized. I told her what …
Carol & Mike
We have recently returned from our second trip to France arranged by Emilie and Guillaume. The itinerary was created by Emilie to include our particular interests and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. We look forward to exploring another part of France in the future arranged by France Just For You.

What are you looking for?