Works of Georgia's Niko Pirosmani and Vincent van Gogh on display at French exhibition

The legacy of Georgia’s celebrated 20th century avant-garde painter Niko Pirosmani continues its journey across Europe being introduced to museum-goers in France alongside the famed Dutch impressionist Vincent van Gogh.

From March 2, some of the most notable works by the self-taught primitivist artist — recognised as one of the major figures of Georgian art — are taking up the space of a brand-new exhibition venue in the city of Arles, where the Dutch painter spent the latter years of his life.

A dual show of works by Pirosmani and van Gogh was prepared in a collaboration between the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Georgian National Museum (GNM) network, Infinitart Foundation Vienna and the Vincent van Gogh Foundation in Arles.

Creations of Pirosmani and van Gogh are being displayed alongside one another for the first time, giving a unique opportunity to museum-goers to enjoy the exhibition until 2 June. Photo: mes.gov.ge

Organisers brought 29 works by Pirosmani, a self-taught artist whose work is seen as an integral part of the eastern European avant-garde, to the exposition space in Arles along with five paintings by Dutch post-impressionist van Gogh.

The Arles exposition is a continuation of the GNM effort to introduce Pirosmani outside his native country, following the recently concluded Pirosmani show at Vienna’s Albertina Museum, in the first comprehensive display of the artist’s works in Austria between October 26, 2018-January 27, 2019.