Vincent & Helene

The story of Helene Kröller-Müller, and thus the creation of the museum and development of the collection, had never previously been told in an exhibition. ‘In this special year, we wanted to draw attention to her passion, her exceptional eye, her world and her determination, as a tribute to the founders of this museum.’

For the first time, almost the entire Van Gogh collection is shown simultaneously: nearly 200 drawings and 87 paintings. The paintings hang in order of acquisition alongside photographs, books and letters from Helene Kröller-Müller, which provide insight into her world of ideas and the provenance of the works. The exhibition also includes furniture designed by H.P. Berlage and Henry van de Velde, which reinforces the personal character of the collection.

The exhibition is presented in the spirit of Helene Kröller-Müller. Designer Walter Nikkels is also captivated by Helene Kröller-Müller and declares that ‘perhaps she has posthumously become increasingly my surreptitious client, with whom I constantly had discussions about how this – you might say – her exhibition should look’.

In the context of ‘150 years of Vincent van Gogh’ the Kröller-Müller Museum, together with De Hoge Veluwe National Park, organizes a programme of activities with Van Gogh as the source of inspiration, such as drawing workshops, lectures, a cycle route, concerts and a film screening. Due to its great success, Vincent & Helene is shown at the Kröller-Müller Museum for almost a year. The museum receives the 100,000^th visitor to the exhibition long before it ends.