Join Axel Rüger, director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and Dr. Maxwell Anderson, The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art for a conversation about the commercialization of the museum world, the global game of securing exhibitions, and the enduring intrigue of van Gogh.

Although Vincent van Gogh painted many self-portraits, this is one of the few in which he depicted himself as an artist, with all the necessary equipment: palette, brushes, and a canvas on a wooden easel.

The Potato Eaters is Van Gogh's first large-scale composition and first masterpiece.

'The painting of the garden with the sweethearts' according to Van Gogh.

This painting shows Gauguin's romanticised view of Martinique as a paradise where the friendly natives still lived close to nature. He was particularly fascinated by the colourful clothing of the women and their graceful movements, even when they carried heavy burdens on their head. The muted yet warm colours contribute to the sultry ambience of the painting.

On Friday nights the Van Gogh Museum is open until 22.00 and there’s always something special going on. Every Friday night, lounge chairs, video projections, live music, performances, DJs and a bar transform the museum’s central hall into a relaxed place to meet. See what's on at www.vangoghmuseum.com/fridaynight.

Van Gogh greatly admired the bright colors and expressive character of Japanese prints, and he soon began to collect them. He based this painting on a work by the Japanese artist Kesai Eisen.

It was August 1889, the sunflowers were blooming, and Van Gogh desperately wanted to capture them in a series of 12 pictures to decorate the room where Paul Gauguin would stay when he arrived in Arles.

Take a look at the Van Gogh Museum's current and upcoming exhibitions. Hope to see you soon!