The only work by Vincent van Gogh in Romania will be displayed to the public for the first time at Art Safari New Museum, as part of a major exhibition opening on May 9 in Bucharest. The show, titled \u201cThe Recovered Collection. The Sl\u0103tineanu Story,\u201d will run until July 19 and brings together over 100 artworks and valuable objects from one of the country\u2019s most significant private collections.<\/p>\n
Hosted at the exhibition space on Amzei Street, the event centers on \u201cThe Carrot Puller,\u201d a charcoal-on-paper piece created in 1885 during van Gogh\u2019s early period in the Dutch village of Nuenen. The work stands out for its dark tones and strong lines, reflecting the artist\u2019s fascination at the time with rural life and peasant labor – far removed from the vibrant colors that would later define his style, the organizers said.<\/p>\n
The drawing was acquired around 1900 by Romanian doctor and collector Alexandru Sl\u0103tineanu while he was studying in Paris. He purchased it from renowned art dealer Ambroise Vollard, who played a key role in promoting artists such as Pablo Picasso and Paul C\u00e9zanne and in bringing wider recognition to van Gogh\u2019s work after his death.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sl\u0103tineanu brought the piece to Romania in 1902, where it remained in the family collection for decades.<\/p>\n
The exhibition also tells the broader story of the Sl\u0103tineanu collection, divided between the works gathered by Alexandru Sl\u0103tineanu and those later expanded by his son, Barbu. Alongside European and Romanian paintings, visitors can see ceramics, jewelry, weapons, decorative items, and archaeological pieces.<\/p>\n
According to Art Safari representatives, the exhibition is also significant for another reason: the Sl\u0103tineanu collection was restituted to the family by the Romanian state after decades, adding a historical dimension to the display.<\/p>\n