Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), who enjoys immense popularity worldwide. An exhibition, "Van Gogh Exhibition—Echoing Souls: Helene and Vincent," centered on the collection of Helene Kröller-Müller (1869–1939), who became the world's largest private collector captivated by his art, will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum from Saturday, September 18, 2021, to Sunday, December 12, 2021.

The "Van Gogh Exhibition—Echoing Souls: Helene and Vincent" focuses on the collection of Helene Kröller-Müller, a collector passionate about Vincent van Gogh. The exhibition will feature 32 oil paintings from Van Gogh's early to late periods, 20 drawings and prints from his Dutch period, and 20 oil paintings by related artists.

Visitors can trace his artistic career from his early to late periods, with works such as "Interior of a Restaurant" from his Paris period, which shows a strong influence of Neo-Impressionism; "The Sower" from his Arles period, with its dazzling contrast of yellow and purple; and the masterpiece "The Country Road in Provence at Night" from his Saint-Rémy period, depicting cypress trees.

The exhibition is divided into four parts. Part 1, "Enchanted by Art: Helene Kröller-Müller, Collector and Founder of the Kröller-Müller Museum," focuses on Helene Kröller-Müller's collection, inspired by Van Gogh's art. Born into a family involved in coal and iron shipping, Helene met Henk Bremer, a teacher and critic who held art lectures for the wealthy in the Netherlands, and through his guidance, she found meaning in life through art. Helene felt that Van Gogh's works, more than those of any other painter, revealed the human spirit, and in order to pass his art on to posterity, she systematically collected high-quality works that would trace his artistic journey from his early to late periods. In 1938, Helene established the Kröller-Müller Museum and served as its first director. Her collection includes over 90 oil paintings and approximately 180 drawings and prints by Van Gogh, as well as works by his contemporaries.

Part 2, "Helene's Favorite Artists: From Realism to Cubism," displays 20 works by artists such as Millet, Renoir, Seurat, Redon, and Mondrian, highlighting Helene's interests and collecting tendencies.

Part 3, "Collecting Van Gogh," exhibits drawings and oil paintings from his Dutch and French periods. With the exception of works created during his brief stays in Drenthe and Antwerp, the Kröller-Müller Museum's collection covers almost Van Gogh's entire artistic career, allowing viewers to appreciate works from his early Dutch period drawings to those where he developed his powerful, modern, and unique style.

Part 4, "The Van Gogh Family Collection at the Van Gogh Museum: Another Splendid Collection in the Netherlands," features four oil paintings by Van Gogh on loan from the Van Gogh Museum, which houses a portion of the collection inherited by his brother Theo after Van Gogh's death, excluding works sold or transferred during his lifetime.