The exhibition “Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise” in the Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay) in Paris, for the last two months of Vincent van Gogh’s life in Auvers-sur-Oise, he broke attendance records.

The exhibition, which included VR (virtual reality) experiences, attracted a total of 793,556 visitorsthat is an average of 7,181 visitors per day over a period of 108 days, from October 3, 2023 to February 4, 2024.

It is the highest attendance at an exhibition since the Museum was inaugurated in 1986, according to a Museum announcement.

The exhibition

The Dutch painter arrived in Auvers-sur-Oise on 20 May 1890 and died there on 29 July after attempting suicide. Although he spent little more than two months in Auvers-sur-Oise, this period reveals a remarkable artistic renaissance.

His works during this period were marked by his psychological state, but he also produced some of his greatest masterpieces.

Within two months, the artist created 74 paintings and 33 drawings, including iconic works, “Portrait of Dr. Gasse’, ‘The Church of Auvers’ and ‘Starhorafa with Crows’.

In the exhibition, an immersive VR experience brought the artist’s palette to life and an AI-generated avatar of Van Gogh was displayed on a video screen.

Visitors could ask questions of the artist’s avatar and receive answers based on the analysis of his letters.