“Side by Side” Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, National Gallery, London, until 27th April
The lyric “side by side” is a literal description of what you will encounter when you visit this “must see” exhibition of these two Sunflower paintings. They have an emotional resonance which you need to experience first hand.
NG 3863
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
Sunflowers, 1888
Oil on canvas
92.1 x 73 cm
Bought, Courtauld Fund, 1924
© National Gallery, London
Much has and will be written about them and I will not add anything here; the storyboards in the gallery tell you all you need to know and I will not spoil it.
L1162
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
Sunflowers, 1889-01 Arles
Oil on canvas
95 x 73 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
s31V/1962
F458
© Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
A final thought! What if they were for sale and you could afford one of them? Which would you choose? Over to you!
Tim Forrest's E & A 
..are they abs. sure the 1888 is not a fake!? … the 1889 is more balanced, more Masterful…
They were done within six months of each other
..hope according to Van Gogh’s letters, otherwise one can put there any letter.. it was guess considering the realy bad internet picture quality..
The two galleries are in no doubt about it. The image came from the National Gallery.
Appreciate your interest.
..if there is ‘no doubt’, I would still choose the 1889 painting and pay more!