The first thing to know about this build is its impressive size. Measuring 21 inches high and 16 inches wide, it's approximately 60% the size of the original painting and sizable enough to be unwieldy when handling. This LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers set, priced at $199.99 and available exclusively at the LEGO Store, commands attention not just for its homage to one of the world's most celebrated artworks but also for its suitability as a piece of art to be proudly displayed in a home. This reflects LEGO's ongoing transition from an adult curiosity to a respected adult hobby.
LEGO Art Vincent van Gogh – Sunflowers
Vincent van Gogh painted his renowned series of Sunflowers during his stay in Arles, France, a time of great artistic productivity. Van Gogh felt a profound emotional connection to sunflowers, associating them with gratitude, and considered them his personal muse, as he expressed in a letter to a friend:
"If [Georges] Jeannin has the peony, [Ernest] Quost the hollyhock, I indeed, before others, have taken the sunflower."
In August 1888, he created four versions of sunflowers in a vase, revisiting this theme in January 1889 with repetitions of the third and fourth versions. Of these seven paintings, the fourth version and its repetitions are the most well-known. The original fourth version (F454) is showcased at the National Gallery in London, England. One repetition (F457) resides at the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan, while the other (F458), notable for its vivid color composition, is displayed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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The Van Gogh Museum, established in 1973, collaborated with LEGO to produce the LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, a tribute to the F458 repetition. This set features a three-dimensional relief that captures van Gogh's signature thick brushstrokes using abstract LEGO pieces.
Upon opening the box, builders are greeted with 34 numbered bags and an instruction booklet featuring a QR code. Scanning this code leads to a podcast exploring van Gogh and his inspirations. The building process is practical and engaging. You begin by constructing the frame, which can be leaned against a wall while you proceed to build the canvas and the painting itself.
The final step involves mounting the canvas into the frame and securing it with pins, a process that adds a personal touch and enhances the set's perceived value and importance.
An intriguing Easter egg lies within the canvas's construction. Art experts found that van Gogh extended the canvas's height with a wooden strip during the painting process to give the sunflowers more space. LEGO playfully replicates this detail by having builders attach a separate strip at the top with pins, using brown bricks to simulate wood.
This hidden detail, though imperceptible to casual observers, adds a layer of exclusivity and a sense of the artist's creative process for the builder. The construction of the full-bloom sunflowers, while tedious, mirrors van Gogh's meticulous approach, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and savoring the experience.
The wilting flowers and profile views, initially abstract, come together beautifully when viewed from a distance. A common question among adult LEGO enthusiasts, "Where do you display your builds?" is easily answered with this set: it's destined for the dining room wall, enhancing the space and offering long-term enjoyment.
This set, LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, Set #31215, comprises 2615 pieces and retails for $199.99, available exclusively at the LEGO Store.
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