Museum in Noord-Brabant trying to raise funds to buy Vincent van Gogh work on loan there

The Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch has been trying to raise the 2.6 million euros needed to buy Vincent van Gogh's Head of a Woman (Gordina de Groot) from 1885. The painting is owned by a British collector who offered the museum the chance to buy it without price-driven competition.

Most of the asking price of 8.6 million euros was already available to the museum, partly thanks to commitments from the Dutch State and several funds. The museum is also spending from its own pocket. The museum is hoping to collect the equivalent of a euro per person in Noord-Brabant to buy the painting.

Gordina can now be seen in Den Bosch but it is on loan, with the museum wanting to become the permanent owner. "Gordina de Groot from Nuenen is one of the five people around the table in the world-famous masterpiece The Potato Eaters," the museum said.

The museum is calling on "all Brabanders to take this chance together and keep Gordina close to her origin forever."

Museum director Jacqueline Grandjean described the painting. "Gordina's look shows the hard work on the land and the worries that come with it. At the same time, this painting shows the pride and the resilience that has made this the most flourishing province in the Netherlands. Especially here, the look on Gordina's face has a deep meaning for people. Anyone who looks into her eyes is touched."

Vincent Van Gogh painted Head of a Woman in March-April 1885 in Nuenen. "Gordina and Vincent saw each other regularly. The artists painted her several times. And when Gordina turned out to be pregnant, people quickly and incorrectly pointed to Van Gogh as the possible father," the Museum said.

Bringing Gordina back definitively would require one euro from every person in Brabant. "Brabant has 2.6 million people. That is exactly the sum we need to pay. It is now up to Brabant to ensure that the last piece is realized so the painting can stay here forever," the Museum added.

Donations can be made via the Museum's website or a payment kiosk.