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Arts Intel Report

Captivated by Vincent: The Intimate Friendship of Jo van Gogh-Bonger and Isaac Israëls

Isaac Israëls, Woman Standing in Front of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, 1920.

Sept 12, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands

In 1915, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, the widow of Van Gogh’s brother, Theo, lent several of her brother-in-law’s masterpieces to her friend Isaac Israëls. By then, Vincent had been dead for 25 years. An artist himself, Israëls placed images of Sunflowers, The Bedroom, and The Yellow House (The Street) in the backgrounds of his own paintings, at least 17 times. Ten of these homages by Israëls are on view in this exhibition, along with paintings by Van Gogh, personal letters, and tender portraits of Jo and her son, Vincent. —Elena Clavarino

Photo courtesy of the Van Gogh Museum