Restored and Exhibited: Van Gogh's Lost Masterpiece

The exhibition "Van Gogh: The Immersive Journey of Japanese Dreams," the first international joint project with the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands, is being held after six years of preparation.

The Sapporo exhibition was held at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art until October 15, 2017 (Sunday), and the Tokyo exhibition is now open.

A major highlight of this exhibition is the display of a restored version of Van Gogh's lost masterpiece, "The Bridge at Langlois with Washerwomen." This is the first attempt in the world to restore the work using fragments of the painting, sketches, and letters as clues.

In March 1888, Van Gogh depicted the drawbridge "The Bridge at Langlois" in the Arles region of southern France in a series of oil paintings and sketches. "The Bridge at Langlois with Washerwomen" is one of these works.

It is believed to have been painted with extremely vivid colors, such as yellow for the sky, emerald green for the water, and orange, red, and rose for the figures, in a flat composition reminiscent of ukiyo-e prints. The landscape depicted reveals that Van Gogh painted this work facing due north, and it is characterized by the inclusion of a sun that would never have been visible as an imaginary motif.

Only a portion of this oil painting survives as the work "Sailor and Lover." The reason for this is unclear. It is said that Van Gogh himself was not entirely satisfied with "The Bridge at Langlois with Washerwomen" because he finished it in his studio due to bad weather during its creation.


For the restoration, a concept of "restoring the painting Van Gogh intended to create, what his successful work would have looked like" was adopted, with Van Gogh researchers and artists contributing their opinions to advance the project.

Led by Dr. Tsukasa Kuniteru, a world-renowned Van Gogh scholar and the exhibition's general supervisor, and with advice from international researchers, the restoration was undertaken by Yoko Koga, the only Japanese artist to participate in the production of the film "Loving Vincent." The meticulous restoration work was carried out based on documents and works from the same period.

Regarding the project, Dr. Kuniteru stated, "Restoring a non-existent work is a highly challenging and creative task. Visitors will be able to see the results of this endeavor to date. We hope to continue this project based on your impressions and feedback."

Ms. Koga commented, "In undertaking this restoration, I was able to personally experience Van Gogh's exquisite sense of balance in color and brushwork, and his powerful expressiveness, and I was once again amazed by the brilliance of his work. Discovering and expressing the consistent 'Van Gogh-ness' within his evolving style in each painting is a challenging, trial-and-error process. While there is no single correct answer for this restoration, the work of imagining the lost painting, which no one can see anymore, is a very precious experience."

Following the Tokyo exhibition, a Kyoto exhibition is planned. "Van Gogh: The Immersive Journey of Japanese Dreams" will showcase his multifaceted charm, including works being exhibited in Japan for the first time and ukiyo-e prints that influenced Van Gogh. We encourage you to visit during this opportunity.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Journey of Japanese Dreams
【Tokyo Exhibition】
Dates: October 24, 2017 (Tuesday) – January 8, 2018 (Monday, Public Holiday)
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:30 *On November 1 (Wednesday), 2 (Thursday), and 4 (Saturday) during the exhibition period, hours are extended to 20:00 (last admission 30 minutes before closing).
Closed: Mondays (except January 8), December 31, January 1 (Monday, Public Holiday)
Admission Fees: General: ¥1600 (¥1300), University/Vocational School Students: ¥1300 (¥1100), High School Students: ¥800 (¥600), Seniors (65+): ¥1000 (¥800)
*Prices in parentheses are for groups of 20 or more. *Free for junior high school students and younger. *On November 15 (Wednesday) and December 20 (Wednesday), seniors (65+) are admitted free of charge for Silver Day (proof required).
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
8-36 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5777-8600

【Kyoto Exhibition】
Dates: January 20, 2018 (Saturday) – March 4, 2018 (Sunday)
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:00 *On Fridays and Saturdays, the museum is open until 20:00 (last admission 30 minutes before closing).
Closed: Mondays (except February 12), February 13 (Tuesday)
Admission Fees: General: ¥1500 (¥1300), University Students: ¥1100 (¥900), High School Students: ¥600 (¥400)
*Prices in parentheses are for groups of 20 or more. *Free for junior high school students and younger.
Venue: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Tel: 075-761-4111