Collection histories

Otterlo

Kröller-Müller Museum

The Kröller-Müller collection preserves a distinct Van Gogh route through the collecting of Helene Kröller-Müller. She became H. P. Bremmer's pupil in 1905 and engaged him as an adviser in 1907; she and her husband eventually assembled more than 270 Van Gogh paintings and drawings, including roughly 120 sheets from Hidde Nijland's collection. The museum identifies 88 Van Gogh paintings in its collection, mainly acquired between 1908 and 1930.

Museum collection

Collection moments

  1. 1903

    “Unknown Van Goghs” enter the market

    In 1903, early works Van Gogh had left behind in Nuenen when he departed for Antwerp in 1885 emerged from crates a carpenter had stored for fifteen years. They passed through a secondhand dealer to a buyer named Mouwen, then came to the attention of the art world and market and dispersed among collectors. Hidde Nijland acquired sixty early drawings, doubling his holdings.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (line 309) : The 1903 rediscovery, its movement through the market, and Nijland's acquisition of sixty early drawings.

Selected provenance records

  1. Carpenter's Yard and Laundry

    F939, JH150; KM 116.039

    The drawing was acquired from Van Gogh by his uncle C. M. van Gogh in 1882, sold to J. Hidde Nijland before 1904, acquired by Helene Kröller-Müller in 1928, transferred to the Kröller-Müller Foundation in 1932, and entered the museum in Otterlo in 1937.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (lines 758-777) : Acquisition and institutional transfer chain.

  2. Windmills near Dordrecht

    F850, JH15; KM 126.249

    L. C. Enthoven kept the drawing until his 1920 sale, where Helene Kröller-Müller bought it together with other drawings and paintings. It entered the Kröller-Müller Foundation in 1928 and the museum in 1937.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (lines 606-628) : 1920 sale purchase by Helene Kröller-Müller and later institutional transfer.

  3. Boy with a Sickle

    F851, JH61; KM 111.847

    J. Hidde Nijland held and loaned the drawing before Helene Kröller-Müller acquired it in 1928. It transferred to the Kröller-Müller Foundation in 1932 and entered the museum in 1937.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (lines 629-650) : Nijland ownership, 1928 acquisition and institutional transfer.

  4. Woman Sewing

    F1221, JH70; KM 122.653

    The drawing remained with L. C. Enthoven until his 1920 sale, when Helene Kröller-Müller purchased it. It entered the Kröller-Müller Foundation in 1928 and the museum in 1937.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (lines 651-670) : Enthoven sale, Helene Kröller-Müller acquisition and institutional transfer.

  5. Man at the Fireplace

    F868, JH80; KM 120.849

    After A. Terhell and J. Hidde Nijland, Helene Kröller-Müller purchased the drawing in 1928. It then moved to the Kröller-Müller Foundation in 1932 and the museum in 1937.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (lines 671-694) : Terhell and Nijland ownership followed by 1928 acquisition and institutional transfer.

  6. Sorrowing Woman

    F1060, JH326; KM 123.495

    Probably sent to the artist's uncle C. M. van Gogh, the drawing was sold by his gallery to Helene Kröller-Müller in 1911. It entered the Kröller-Müller Foundation in 1928 and the museum in 1937.

    Sources
    • Vincent van Gogh: The Drawings (lines 883-899) : Early gallery sale to Helene Kröller-Müller and institutional transfer.