(Sold Out) From Arles to the MFA: New Perspectives on Van Gogh’s French Years

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 From 6:00 PM To 8:00 PM Add to Calendar 2025-06-04 18:00:00 2025-06-04 20:00:00 (Sold Out) From Arles to the MFA: New Perspectives on Van Gogh’s French Years An artist in exile, a French family of unlikely muses, and a series of portraits that speak across time—Professor Claude Cernuschi uncovers the emotional heart of Van Gogh’s years in Arles. The French Library, 53 Marlborough St, Boston, Massachusetts, United States America/New_York

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Join us for a special evening at the French Library with Professor Claude Cernuschi,a leading scholar of 19th- and 20th-century art, as he explores the emotional and artistic depth of Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits, currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

In this special lecture, Professor Cernuschi offers a fresh perspective on Van Gogh’s portraits of the Roulin family—his neighbors during a pivotal period in Arles—and explores their lasting resonance in the context of friendship, displacement, and the artist’s evolving vision of community. Drawing on art history, psychology, and cultural identity, he will examine how these iconic works reflect Van Gogh’s longing for connection, his embrace of French life, and his singular approach to portraying the human spirit.

The evening will conclude with a wine reception and light bites.

The event will be held in English.

Member

$15

Non-member

$25

About the Speaker

Claude Cernuschi is a Professor of Art History at Boston College, where he has served as Chair of the Fine Arts Department and contributed extensively to the McMullen Museum of Art. A specialist in modern and contemporary art, his scholarship focuses on the intersections between visual expression, psychological insight, and cultural identity. His published work includes in-depth studies of Jackson Pollock, Abstract Expressionism, and the emotional language of form.

Born in Buenos Aires and educated in the United States, Professor Cernuschi brings a global perspective to European art history. His recent work explores themes of belonging, alienation, and the human search for connection—central to the work of Vincent van Gogh.

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