Seeing through heart and eyes. Martien Coppens (1908 - 1986).
Forty years after Vincent van Gogh left Nuenen, Martien Coppens started photographing landscapes, life and work in the countryside and people from the Kempen and Peel regions in 1922. Coppens was sometimes known as the sculptor among photographers. As a photographer, he viewed his subjects through his heart and eyes.
The photographs selected for this exhibition show a striking affinity with Van Gogh’s paintings, drawings and sketches. Coppens portrayed peasant life, cottage industries and people as Van Gogh might have seen them.
Vincent van Gogh’s period in Nuenen was of significant importance.
This period also greatly influenced what he painted in France. The fascinating stories about his life in Nuenen and his quest for light, colour and perspective resulted in his first masterpiece, and these are a central theme of our museum.
The tension at home and the tragic relationship with the lady next door all strengthened his determination to be an artist. He also gave lessons and invited his friends to Nuenen.
He walked endlessly, and if anything attracted his attention he made a mark with his foot in the soil, so that later on when the light was better, he could come back with his sketchbook.
Vincent decided to produce a large group portrait in Nuenen. Nuenen was the ideal place for this; the area suffered greatly from poverty, and he painted and sketched hard-working weavers, peasant and farmers. These included people at work in the fields, and indoor and outdoor details. Despite many setbacks, he persevered and produced hundreds of drawings and paintings as preliminary studies.
All this resulted in his first masterpiece The Potato Eaters.
What is light and how does colour work? You can discover the effects of light and colour for yourself in a surprising way in Vincents Lightlab.
Vincent experimented with light and perspective in his paintings. Vincent learned more through trial and error, but above all through persistence.
You can experience this in Vincents Lightlab.
