A replica of a painting by Van Gogh was donated to the National Hiding Museum in Aalten on Wednesday 31 May. Volunteer André Fukkink received the painting on behalf of the museum. The occasion is the 50th anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum, which is treating 50 inspiring volunteers throughout the country to a so-called Van Gogh Museum Edition.
André Fukkink initially thought it was a joke when the Van Gogh Museum approached him several times with the message ‘Congratulations on a Van Gogh’. However, when it was mentioned that his son-in-law had nominated him, he realized that this was serious. André is committed to recording the memories of people in hiding and resistance fighters, so that they are preserved for posterity. He has interviewed many people and recorded them in reports.
A yellow team arrived at the National Hiding Museum on Wednesday afternoon with a yellow easel. A festive and exciting moment, because until then it had been kept secret which work was wrapped in a black cloth on the easel.
A small group of guests counted down from ten to one and there was enthusiastic applause when the curtain fell: a replica of ‘Boulevard de Clichy’ appeared. Vincent van Gogh made this impressionist painting in Paris in 1887, near the place where he lived with his brother Theo. The painting will be given a beautiful place in the National Hiding Museum. Soon, all museum visitors will be able to admire the painting.
