Celebrate Vincent Van Gogh at Chaos Cards

The world renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh was born on March 30th 1853 in Groot Zundert, the Netherlands. Van Gogh was a Post-Impressionist master who went on to become one of the most influential figures in Art History. Despite his bold use of colour and emotive brushwork changing the course of Western art, Van Gogh’s work went largely unrecognised while he was alive. During his lifetime he only ever sold one painting for 400 francs.

The legacy he left behind however is legendary, and he inspires many people every day to pick up a paintbrush and create. What better way to honour Van Goghs 173rd birthday then by checking out two hobby sets that bring the brilliance of his artwork home.

In 1888, Van Gogh moved to Provence in Southern France, where he began his world-famous and renowned Sunflower series. This LEGO Art set, created in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, allows you to recreate that 1889 masterpiece at home in a beautiful 3D design. The LEGO Art set is made up of 2,615 pieces, and immerses the builder into Van Gogh’s world with its vibrant design reminiscent of his work. The LEGO set features 16 sunflowers with adjustable petals, which allow you to style your bouquet how you choose. (Check out our other LEGO Botanicals post if the idea of these creative bouquets intrigues you!)

We love the thoughtful touch of the LEGO tile with Van Gogh’s iconic signature and the beautiful removable frame. Each kit comes with a QR code to a dedicated podcast, so you can learn about the history of this painting and Van Gogh’s inspirations while you build. This is a great addition and is perfect for those LEGO builders who like to know the facts about what they are making.

The Chaos Cards team think this set really captures the intensity of light that Vincent was so obsessed with during his time in Arles, and makes a fitting tribute to his vibrant use of colour. It would make a great addition to any art lover’s home.

Van Gogh’s work was profoundly shaped by his ongoing issues with his mental health. During his time at the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, he painted what many consider to be the most recognisable painted landscape in the world: The Starry Night.

As fans of Doctor Who, the Chaos Cards team often revists the episode Vincent and the Doctor. (Series 5, Epsiode 10.) It beautifully but gently portrays the highs and lows he experienced whilst creating The Starry Night masterpiece. Rowoods all new 3D Wooden Diorama brings that swirling, celestial sky home with its new kit.

This kit transforms the painting into an enchanting and mechanical landscape featuring movable Elements with gear-driven stars, a rotating moon, and a swaying cypress tree. It features all the things we have come to expect from a Rowood product. Made from sustainable wood, this 238-piece kit is a perfect afternoon project that brings a peaceful tranquillity to any shelf. The final touch to this diorama is a built-in "breathing" light that sits behind the scene, turning the diorama into a magical night light. It really is a stunning piece to light up any room with its swirling design and accompanying mini easel.

DID YOU KNOW?

Some Fun Facts before you go:

• The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (who LEGO collaborated with for the Sunflower set) houses over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters from Vincent to his brother Theo.
• Van Gogh is considered a prolific artist, despite only creating for 10 years! In this time he made around 900 paintings and over a thousand drawings.
• As mentioned above, Vincent didn't start painting until he was 27 and was mostly self taught. It goes to show it's never too late to start a new hobby, from oil painting or building a 2,000-piece LEGO set!
• The Dr Who Episode Vincent and the Doctor suggests that Vincent saw the world differently and is considered to be on of the popular shows most moving episodes: especially when the Doctor takes Vincent to a modern-day Musée d'Orsay to show him how much his work is loved and appreciated.
• Starry Night was created whilst Van Gogh was recuperating at the asylum and was created solely from his imagination.

From meticulously building the 2000 piece LEGO set together, to piecing together the wooden gears of the Rowood diorama, these beautiful kits allow us to experience a similar creative spirit to that of Vincent Van Gogh.

So pick up one of these kits on March 30th and lose yourself in the vibrant yellows and swirling blues of one of arts most inspiring visionaries.