Van Gogh’s ‘triple painting’ revealed by discoveries beneath the surface

Conservators at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam found that Vincent van Gogh’s Poplars near Nuenen is effectively a ‘triple painting,’ with two earlier compositions beneath the visible surface. Research showed the canvas began in July 1884 as a moonlit view of Nuenen’s Protestant church tower and graveyard, then was painted over in November 1885 with an autumn avenue scene, and finally extensively reworked in late 1886 to brighten the palette. After four years of conservation to address severe cracking and degraded varnish, the restored painting was scheduled to go on view on 7 February 2026. X-ray imaging helped identify the original composition and the likely location where Van Gogh set up his easel south of the village.

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