Dutch museum buys Van Gogh painting for over €8.5 million

A Dutch museum has reportedly broken the world record that an institution has paid for a Vincent van Gogh painting.

According to the Art Newspaper, the Noordbrabants Museum in ’s-Hertogenbosch bought the 1885 painting from London-based art dealer and collector Daniel Katz.

The work, which portrays a peasant woman, was initially acquired by Katz at Christie’s in February 2023. During that auction, the Noordbrabants Museum was a contender but withdrew as bidding intensified, ultimately allowing Katz to secure the piece for around €5.76 million.

Although the Noordbrabants Museum only purchased the painting earlier this month, Gordina de Groot is already quite at home in the museum.

Following the Christie’s auction, museum director Jacqueline Grandjean and curator Helewise Berger approached Katz with interest in acquiring the painting. While he initially declined to sell, he agreed to loan it to the museum, where it has been on show since January.

Determined to buy the artwork, according to local media, the museum gathered €6 million from funds, subsidies and a contribution from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, before embarking on a fundraising campaign to raise the last €2.6 million to pay for what they dubbed “the Mona Lisa of Brabant”.

This acquisition adds to the museum’s growing Van Gogh collection, which has expanded to include five paintings since 2016, with six more currently on loan. The museum is also preparing to enhance its offerings with the upcoming Van Gogh Wing, set to open in 2026, further solidifying its commitment to celebrating the legacy of the iconic Dutch artist.