Paintings conservator Kathrin Pilz has been working for over a year on removing the varnish layer that was applied to the painting Olive Grove (1889) during a previous restoration treatment in 1933.
The bright colours as chosen by Van Gogh can now be perceived once again. Pilz conducted comprehensive research into Van Gogh’s paintings of olive groves before restoring Olive Grove at the Van Gogh Museum.
Van Gogh’s paintings of olive groves
During his time in the South of France, Vincent van Gogh devoted himself to painting olive groves. These olive trees were growing around the asylum in Saint-Rémy, where the 36-year-old artist stayed for a year due to his mental health issues. Van Gogh found comfort and strength in nature, and in painting the gnarly shapes of the olive trees.
He was fascinated by the varied colours of the trees, caused by the constantly changing light. Vincent masterfully captured their characteristic, twisting branches and trunks, using swirling brushwork, strong contours and stylised blue-purple shadows. The painting Olive Grove in the Van Gogh Museum collection is one of fifteen that he made of the olive trees.
